doftsignaler

Doftsignaler, or odor signals, are chemical signals emitted by organisms to convey information through scent. They encompass pheromones released within a species as well as kairomones and allomones exchanged between species. Odor signals mediate attraction, mating, warning, foraging, and social organization, and occur across diverse taxa including insects, mammals, and plants.

They are commonly categorized as releaser signals, which trigger immediate behavioral responses such as trail following, aggregation, or flight, or primer signals, which induce longer-term physiological changes such as reproductive timing. Pheromones are intraspecific signals, while kairomones and allomones are interspecific and can benefit the receiver, emitter, or both depending on the ecological context.

Detection and processing of doftsignaler rely on olfactory receptors in sensory organs. Insects detect odors with antennae, while vertebrates sense them in the nasal epithelium. Information is transmitted to brain centers such as the insect antennal lobe or the vertebrate olfactory bulb, where odor identity and concentration are encoded and integrated with learning and context.

Ecological and applied perspectives highlight their roles in mating systems, social organization, foraging, alarm signaling, and plant–insect interactions (for example, plant volatile compounds that attract pollinators or deter herbivores). Research methods include gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to identify compounds and electrophysiological or behavioral assays to test responses. In agriculture, synthetic pheromones and kairomones are used for pest management, while the fragrance industry exploits odor signals for consumer perception.

Human aspects remain partly debated; cultural and contextual factors influence odor perception and interpretation, though some putative human pheromones are studied with ongoing investigation.