Thesis (MSc (Botany and Zoology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Although the Bengal tiger, Panthera tigris tigris, appears on the IUCN Red Data List for
endangered animals, very little information is available in the literature on the components of this
animal's marking fluid. Scent marking is the main form of communication in all cat species. In
some species, including the Bengal tiger, the liquid used for spraying is not pure urine, but is
mixed with scent gland secretions.
The objective of this study was to characterise the volatile components in the marking
fluid of the Bengal tiger to achieve a better understanding of the semiochemical communication
of this animal. The marking fluid of the tiger was characterised through the use of analytical
techniques, such as gaschromatography, low resolution gas chromatography - mass spectrometry
and retention time comparison. Homologous series of alkanes, alcohols, aldehydes, methyl
ketones, carboxylic acids, γ- and δ-lactones, amides and lactams, as well as esters and nitrogen
containing compounds, were identified. Of these identified compounds the unbranched alkanes,
saturated alcohols, aldehydes, branched methyl ketones, saturated carboxylic acids and γ- and δ-
lactones are commonly found in mammalian secretions. Compounds that aren't as common in
their secretions are the methyl ketones, branched carboxylic acids, dimethyl esters of
dicarboxylic acids and amides. The marking fluid contains a phthalic acid ester. Phthalic acid
esters are used in the polymer industry and are nowadays found almost everywhere in nature. It
is known that these pollutants have endocrine disrupting properties.
The heat, humidity and wet conditions that are characteristic of the Bengal tiger's natural
habitat makes it necessary for the tiger to make use of a fixative to prolong the life of the
semiochemical message. The compounds and the concentrations in which these compounds are
present in the urine and the lipid fraction of the marking fluid of the tiger was determined and
compared to assess the fixative role of the lipids. This study has provided evidence that the lipid
material has a greater affinity for the volatile organic constituents of the marking fluid and that it
can therefore extend the lifetime of a semiochemical message left by the tiger.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1576 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Viviers, Marlize Z. |
| Contributors | Burger, B. V., Le Roux, M., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Chemistry and Polymer Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | Afrikaans |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 8922655 bytes, application/pdf |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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