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A new challenge-development of test systems for the infochemical effect
1University of Applied Sciences Ulm, Prittwitzstr. 10, 89075, Ulm, Germany. klaschka@hs-ulm.de
Environmental Science and Pollution Research International
|February 4, 2009
Summary
Anthropogenic substances can disrupt natural chemical communication in organisms, causing an infochemical effect. This study explores various testing methods to quantify these effects, highlighting the need for standardized approaches in ecotoxicology.
Area of Science:
- Ecotoxicology
- Chemical Ecology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Organisms rely on infochemicals for environmental sensing and response.
- Anthropogenic substances can interfere with this chemical communication, leading to the infochemical effect.
- Current methods are insufficient to identify and quantify the infochemical effect of pollutants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and propose suitable test designs for identifying and quantifying the infochemical effect.
- To establish a basis for ecotoxicological analysis of anthropogenic impacts on chemical communication.
Main Methods:
- Systematic compilation of experimental setups from basic research.
- Evaluation of multidisciplinary studies (molecular biology, neurobiology, ecology, etc.).
- Focus on chemosensory signal transduction and processing cascades.
Main Results:
- Identified potential test systems based on olfactory receptors, binding studies, and signal transduction.
- Included methods like electroolfactograms, behavioral assays, and population dynamics.
- Highlighted the importance of aquatic organisms in this research.
Conclusions:
- The infochemical effect is a complex sublethal endpoint requiring standardized quantitative methods.
- Developing robust test systems is challenging due to numerous chemicals, receptors, and low effective concentrations.
- Further research is crucial to understand and address the ecosystem-wide impact of the infochemical effect.
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