Pheromone characteristics

Question 1

General characteristics

Answer 1

• old
• ubiquitous (in every phylum)
• organic molecules
• low concentrations suffice
• some dual functions

Question 2

Functional characteristic

Answer 2

• volatility (ability to spread)
• dependent of circumstances
• small size of molecule or some functional groups increase volatility

Question 3

Chemical characteristics

Answer 3

• specificity: plume (mixture), concentration, timing, stereoisomers, sizes
• diversity: proteins (aa sequence), lipids (chain lengths, double bonds), carbohydrates (alcohols, ketones, hydrocarbons)