Abstract
This study investigated the influence of the volatile constituents of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) urine in suppressing feeding by snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) on coniferous tree seedlings. Pen and field bioassays indicated that the odor of fox urine and its principal component, 3-methyl-3-butenyl methyl sulfide, had a negative effect on feeding behavior of hares. The other sulfur-containing compounds, 2-phenylethyl methyl sulfide and 3-methylbutyl methyl sulfide, as well as six other constituents, were not effective. Synthetic urine mixtures composed of eight and nine volatile constituents, respectively, did not suppress feeding in pen bioassays. However, the mixture of eight compounds in a field bioassay did result in significantly fewer seedlings being eaten by hares than in the control. 3-Methyl-3-butenyl methyl sulfide may act as an interspecific chemical signal which induces a fear or avoidance response in hares. Additional work is required to determine the optimum concentration and release system for 3-methyl-3-butenyl methyl sulfide to be used as a mammalian semiochemical in crop protection.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albone, E.S. andFlood, P.P. 1976. The supracaudal scent gland of the red fox,Vulpes vulpes.J. Chem. Ecol. 2:167–175.
Albone, E.S., andPerry, G.C. 1976. Anal sac secretion of the red fox,Vulpes vulpes; volatile fatty acids and diamines: Implications for a fermentation hypothesis of chemical recognition.J. Chem. Ecol. 2:101–111.
Bailey, S., Bunyan, P.J., andPage, J.M.J. 1980. Variation in the levels of some components of the volatile fraction of urine from captive red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and its relationship to the state of the animal, pp. 391–403,in D. Muller-Schwarze and R.M. Silverstein (eds.). Chemical Signals: Vertebrates and Aquatic Invertebrates. Plenum Press, New York.
Brown, W.L., Eisner, T., andWhittaker, R.H. 1970. Allomones and kairomones, transpecific chemical messengers.Bioscience 20:21–22.
El-Hewehi, Z., andTaeger, E. 1958. Notiz über Bunte-salze.J. Prak. Chem. 279:191–195.
Errington, P.L. 1935. Food habits of mid-west foxes.J. Mammal. 16:192–200.
Jones, D.M., andTheberge, J.B. 1983. Variation in red fox,Vulpes vulpes, summer diets in northwest British Columbia and southwest Yukon.Can. Field-Nat. 97:311–314.
Jorgenson, J.W., Novotny, M., Carmack, M., Copland, G.B., Wilson, S.R., Katona, S., andWritten, W.K. 1978. Chemical scent constituents in the urine of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) during the winter season.Science 199:796–798.
Keith, L.B., andWindberg, L.A. 1978. A demographic analysis of the snowshoe hare cycle.Wildl. Monogr. 58.
Krajina, V.J. 1969. Ecology of forest trees in British Columbia.Ecol. West. North Am., 2:1–147.
Pils, C.M., andMartin, M.A. 1978. Population dynamics, predator-prey relationships and management of the red fox in Wisconsin.Dep. Nat. Res. Tech. Bull. 105, 56 pp.
Raymer, J., Wiesler, D., Novotny, M., Asa, C., Seal, U.S., andMech, L.D. 1984. Volatile constituents of wolf (Canis lupus) urine as related to gender and season.Experientia 40:707–709.
Scott, T.G. 1943. Some food coactions of the northern plains red fox.Ecol. Mongr. 13:427–479.
Scott, T.G., andKlimstra, W.D. 1955. Red foxes and a declining prey population.South Illinois University Monograph Series 123.
Strong, W.L., andLeggat, K.R. 1981. Ecoregions of Alberta. Alberta Energy and Natural Resources. ENR Tech. Rep. No T/4. 64 pp.
Sullivan, T.P., andCrump, D.R. 1984. Influence of mustelid scent gland compounds on suppression of feeding by snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus).J. Chem. Ecol. 10:1809–1821.
Sullivan, T.P., andMoses, R.A. 1986. Demographic and feeding responses of a snowshoe hare population to habitat alteration.J. Appl. Ecol. In press.
Sullivan, T.P., Nordstrom, L.O., andSullivan, D.S. 1985a. The use of predator odors as repellents to reduce feeding damage by herbivores. I. Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus).J. Chem. Ecol. 11:903–919.
Sullivan, T.P., Nordstrom, L.O., andSullivan, D.S. 1985b. The use of predator odors as repellents to reduce feeding damage by herbivores. II. Black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus).J. Chem. Ecol. 11:921–935.
Vernet-Maury, E., Polar, E.H., andDemael, A. 1984. Structure-activity relationship of stressinducing odorants in the rat.J. Chem. Ecol. 10:1007–1018.
von Braun, J., Teuffert, W., andWeissback, K. 1929. Über den Zerfall Quartärer Ammonium- und Sulfonium Hydroxide, IV.Justus Liebigs Ann. Chem. 472:121–142.
Whitten, W.K., Wilson, M.C., Wilson, S.R., Jorgenson, J.W., Novotny, M., andCarmack, M. 1980. Induction of marking behavior in wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes L.) by synthetic urinary constituents.J. Chem. Ecol. 6:49–55.
Wilson, S.R., Carmack, M., Novotny, M., Jorgenson, J.W., andWhitten, W.K. 1978. †3-Isopentenyl methyl sulfide. A new terpenoid in the scent mark of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes).J. Org. Chem. 43:4675–4676.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sullivan, T.P., Crump, D.R. Feeding responses of snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) to volatile constituents of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) urine. J Chem Ecol 12, 729–739 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012105
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01012105