To Fix or Not to Fix: The Role of 2-Phenoxyethanol in Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, Chin Gland Secretion

R Andrew Hayes; B J Richardson; S G Wyllie

doi:10.1023/A:1023836319677

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To Fix or Not to Fix: The Role of 2-Phenoxyethanol in Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, Chin Gland Secretion

Journal article

Peer reviewed

To Fix or Not to Fix: The Role of 2-Phenoxyethanol in Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, Chin Gland Secretion

R Andrew Hayes, B J Richardson and S G Wyllie

Journal of Chemical Ecology, Vol.29(5), pp.1051-1064

2003

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023836319677

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Abstract

Chemical Sciences

Biological Sciences

Environmental Sciences

rabbit

oryctolagus cuniculus

fixative

chemical communication

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) uses the secretion of the chin gland to maintain dominance hierarchies in the wild. Recent work has investigated changes in the secretion when social status is manipulated in the rabbit. When a rabbit becomes dominant, a new compound appears in his secretion, 2-phenoxyethanol. This compound is used as a fixative in the perfume industry. This study investigates whether the compound performs a similar function in the secretion of the rabbit. 2-Phenoxyethanol is not detected olfactorially by rabbits, and slows the release rate of some of the compounds that occur naturally in rabbit chin gland secretion. We suggest that when a rabbit becomes dominant, he adds a fixative to his secretion so that his scent will persist in the environment and not dissipate. He will thus come to dominate the olfactory environment, in much the same way as he does the physical environment.

Details

Title: To Fix or Not to Fix: The Role of 2-Phenoxyethanol in Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, Chin Gland Secretion
Authors: R Andrew Hayes (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
B J Richardson (Author) - University of Western Sydney
S G Wyllie (Author) - University of Western Sydney
Publication details: Journal of Chemical Ecology, Vol.29(5), pp.1051-1064
Publisher: Springer New York LLC
Date published: 2003
DOI: 10.1023/A:1023836319677
ISSN: 0098-0331
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Forest Industries Research Centre; Forest Research Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449578202621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Ecology

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