Pheromones and animal behaviour: communication by smell and taste

TLDR

Chemical communication research is entering a highly dynamic era, with diverse examples from humans to insects and mammals illustrating its broad importance. This book surveys chemical communication across the entire animal kingdom, aiming to be advanced yet accessible to all readers while introducing recent molecular and neurological insights into olfaction. It presents an introduction to the molecular and neurological advances in olfaction and contextualizes them within ecological, evolutionary, and behavioral frameworks.

Abstract

We are entering one of the most exciting periods in the study of chemical communication since the first pheromones were identified some 40 years ago. This rapid progress is reflected in this book, the first to cover the whole animal kingdom at this level for 25 years. The importance of chemical communication is illustrated with examples from a diverse range of animals including humans, marine copepods, Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans, moths, snakes, goldfish, elephants and mice. It is designed to be advanced, but at the same time accessible to readers whatever their scientific background. For students of ecology, evolution and behaviour, this book gives an introduction to the rapid progress in our understanding of olfaction at the molecular and neurological level. In addition, it offers chemists, molecular and neurobiologists an insight into the ecological, evolutionary and behavioural context of olfactory communication.