ENVS 3040 Study Guide - Final Guide: Semiochemical, Chemical Ecology, Sensillum

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Environmental Sciences
• Course: ENVS 3040
• Professor: Simone Haerri

Document Summary

Objectives: discuss the ecological roles of natural compounds, use the correct terminology to describe these interactions, discuss the evolutionary and ecological advantages of chemical communication between organisms in their natural environments. Describe or define the field of chemical ecology. The study of structure, origin and function of naturally occurring chemicals that mediate interaction between individuals of the same species and between individuals of different species. Understand, differentiate and correctly use major terms associated with the field of chemical ecology. Understand and contrast the roles of chemicals in mediating intra- and interspecific interactions between organisms. Semiochemicals: mark or signal; distinct from hormones by the fact they are released into the environment. They are further divided into pheromones (which mediate intraspecific interactions) and allelochemicals (which mediate interspecific interactions). Produced and biologically active at very low concentrations. Pheromones: semiochemicals that mediate intraspecific interactions; normally classified according to their function: Sex pheromones mediate interactions between the sexes of a species (ex.