Scents and sensibility: information content of olfactory signals in the ringtailed lemur, Lemur catta

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth S. Scordato ◽  
Christine M. Drea
Keyword(s):  
Information Content ◽  
Lemur Catta ◽  
Ringtailed Lemur

scholarly journals Mix it and fix it: functions of composite olfactory signals in ring-tailed lemurs

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 160076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia K. Greene ◽  
Kathleen E. Grogan ◽  
Kendra N. Smyth ◽  
Christine A. Adams ◽  
Skylar A. Klager ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Content ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Lemur Catta ◽  
Chemical Signals ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Multiple Messages ◽  
Over Time

Animals communicating via scent often deposit composite signals that incorporate odorants from multiple sources; however, the function of mixing chemical signals remains understudied. We tested both a ‘multiple-messages’ and a ‘fixative’ hypothesis of composite olfactory signalling, which, respectively, posit that mixing scents functions to increase information content or prolong signal longevity. Our subjects—adult, male ring-tailed lemurs ( Lemur catta )—have a complex scent-marking repertoire, involving volatile antebrachial (A) secretions, deposited pure or after being mixed with a squalene-rich paste exuded from brachial (B) glands. Using behavioural bioassays, we examined recipient responses to odorants collected from conspecific strangers. We concurrently presented pure A, pure B and mixed A + B secretions, in fresh or decayed conditions. Lemurs preferentially responded to mixed over pure secretions, their interest increasing and shifting over time, from sniffing and countermarking fresh mixtures, to licking and countermarking decayed mixtures. Substituting synthetic squalene (S)—a well-known fixative—for B secretions did not replicate prior results: B secretions, which contain additional chemicals that probably encode salient information, were preferred over pure S. Whereas support for the ‘multiple-messages’ hypothesis underscores the unique contribution from each of an animal's various secretions, support for the ‘fixative’ hypothesis highlights the synergistic benefits of composite signals.

Applications of Scanning Microscopy in Biomedical Research

1968 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 354-355
Author(s):  
T. L. Hayes
Keyword(s):  
Information Content ◽  
Biomedical Research ◽  
Biomedical Applications ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dental Enamel ◽  
Resolving Power ◽  
Whole Mount ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
Content Information ◽  
Sectioned Tissue

Biomedical applications of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) have increased in number quite rapidly over the last several years. Studies have been made of cells, whole mount tissue, sectioned tissue, particles, human chromosomes, microorganisms, dental enamel and skeletal material. Many of the advantages of using this instrument for such investigations come from its ability to produce images that are high in information content. Information about the chemical make-up of the specimen, its electrical properties and its three dimensional architecture all may be represented in such images. Since the biological system is distinctive in its chemistry and often spatially scaled to the resolving power of the SEM, these images are particularly useful in biomedical research.In any form of microscopy there are two parameters that together determine the usefulness of the image. One parameter is the size of the volume being studied or resolving power of the instrument and the other is the amount of information about this volume that is displayed in the image. Both parameters are important in describing the performance of a microscope. The light microscope image, for example, is rich in information content (chemical, spatial, living specimen, etc.) but is very limited in resolving power.

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