Homing and Nest Recognition in Nocturnal Blue Petrels: What Scent May Attract Birds to their Burrows?

ABSTRACT: Hypogean petrels return to the same nest burrow to breed on remote islands during the summer months. Their nocturnal behavior at the colony, strong musky odor and olfactory anatomy suggest an important role of olfaction in homing behavior and nest recognition. Behavioral experiments showed that olfactory cues are sufficient to allow nest identification, suggesting a stabile chemical signature emanating from burrows and facilitating nest recognition. However, the chemical nature and sources of this odor remain unknown. To better understand the nest odor composition, we analyzed volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of nests of blue petrels (Halobaena caerulea) derived from three different odor sources: nest air, nest material and feather samples. We also compared, during two successive years, V

SUBMITTER: Zidat T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10611862 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature