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Related Concept Videos

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

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Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
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Olfaction01:25

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The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
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Cells can detect chemical cues in their environment and reorganize the cytoskeleton to migrate toward them or away from them. This directional migration, called chemotaxis, is essential during embryogenesis and development, immune response, tissue repair and regeneration, and reproduction. These chemical cues can either attract or repel the cell's movement. For example, axon development is determined by a combination of chemoattractants and chemorepellents that direct the growing axon...
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Chemotaxis in Escherichia coli is a sensory-driven motility mechanism that enables bacteria to navigate chemical gradients, moving toward beneficial environments while avoiding harmful conditions. This process relies on a signal transduction system integrating external chemical cues with flagellar motor control.Chemoreceptors and Signal DetectionE. coli detects chemical gradients through methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs), which are membrane-bound chemoreceptors that sense attractants...
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Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

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The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
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Vertical T-maze Choice Assay for Arthropod Response to Odorants
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Thigmotaxis Mediates Trail Odour Disruption.

Lloyd D Stringer1,2,3, Joshua E Corn1, Hyun Sik Roh1,4

  • 1The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, PB 4704, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand.

Scientific Reports
|May 12, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ants can still follow trails using physical cues like threads, even when their scent trails are disrupted by too many pheromones. This suggests physical structures can partially overcome olfactory disruption in pest management.

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Area of Science:

  • Entomology
  • Chemical Ecology
  • Pest Management

Background:

  • Ant trail pheromone disruption is a novel pest management strategy.
  • Understanding sensory modality interactions is key to optimizing this method.
  • Ants rely on chemotaxis (scent) for trail following, but other senses may compensate.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if thigmotaxis (physical contact) can compensate for olfactory disruption of ant foraging.
  • To determine the efficacy of physical cues in mediating ant responses to disrupted pheromone trails.

Main Methods:

  • Argentine ants were tested for trail following using threads as a physical cue.
  • Pheromone disruption was applied via oversupply, directly on the threads.
  • Trail following success and integrity were compared with and without physical cues under disruptive pheromone concentrations.

Main Results:

  • Trail following success was significantly higher when a physical thread cue was provided.
  • Physical cues partially mediated the disruptive effects of high pheromone concentrations.
  • While trail integrity decreased under pheromone oversupply, physical cues offered some resilience.

Conclusions:

  • Ants can utilize physical structures (thigmotaxis) to partially overcome disruptions in olfactory trail following.
  • Physical cues can reduce, but not completely eliminate, the impact of pheromone disruption on ant foraging behavior.
  • This highlights the potential for integrated pest management strategies combining chemical and physical cues.