Abstract
Black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) discriminate between the geometric isomers of a lactone used as a pheromone by the species. They react strongly to (Z)-4-hydroxy-6-dodeceonic acid lactone, which occurs in their tarsal scent, but the response to theE isomer did not differ from the response to the solvent. The isomers were applied to one member of a group of freely interacting deer, and the sniffing, licking, and following responses were recorded. The synthesis of the geometric isomers of the lactone is described.
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Müller-Schwarze, D., Silverstein, R.M., Müller-Schwarze, C. et al. Response to a mammalian pheromone and its geometric isomer. J Chem Ecol 2, 389–398 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988284
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988284