Kairomone

A kairomone (from Greek Καιρός, opportunistic ) is a chemical messenger used to transmit information between different types (so-called Allelochemikalie ) that benefits only the female organism, the recipient. The term serves to delimit the allomones which benefits the donor organism (transmitter), and the pheromones that convey information within a species. The term was coined in 1970 by WL Brown, T. Eisner, and RH Whittaker.

Classification

One can divide this class of messenger molecules according to their function. We are talking about for example, plant fragrances that insects show you the way to their host plants, as Furagierkairomone (English foraging kairomones ). But even fragrances that organisms indicate the presence of enemies among the kairomones ( Feindvermeidungskairomone, enemy avoidance kairomones ).

A further classification is possible if one considers the type of reaction that triggers a kairomone. Also this classification is analogous to the pheromones: Immediate behavioral responses are triggered by so-called Releaserkairomonen ( releaser kairomones ), while Primerkairomone trigger (primer kairomones ) slow physiological reactions. An example of the latter class are herbivores, such as fish, emitted substances which induce the formation of morphological defense structures in organisms of the zooplankton (eg " helmets " in daphnia or thorns in some rotifers ).