Allomones and Kairomones: Transspecific Chemical Messengers

Abstract

Chemical messengers include hormones, pheromones, allomones, and kairomones. Allomones evoke, in organisms receiving them, responses that favor the source species; kairomones are adaptively exploited by receiver species without regard for the needs of the producer organism. The diversity and interrelations of messenger substances emphasize the evolutionary versatility of chemical agents as means of relating parts of organisms, individuals of species, and species of communities.