Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 11

This volume reports the proceedings of the eleventh triennial meeting of the Chemical Signals in Vertebrates International Symposium and thus, is the 30th anniversary of the informal grouping of scientists who convene to discuss their common interests in the ways in which vertebrates use chemical signals. Pre- ous meetings were held in Saratoga Springs, New York; Syracuse, New York; Sarasota, Florida; Laramie, Wyoming; Oxford, England; Philadelphia, Pennsyl- nia; Tubingen,Germany;Ithaca, New York; Krakow ´ ,Poland and Corvallis, Oregon. The eleventh meeting was hosted by the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Liverpool, and was held in Chester, England. CSiV 11 was the latest in a well regarded series of meetings, and was attended by about 80 scientists, with nearly120 furtherco-authors,all with a commoninterest in vertebratechemicals- nalling, and its role in vertebrate behaviour. The species range was, as ever, rema- able – from lion to salamander, from mouse to elephant, from salmon to human, a biodiversity matched by the range of the substances used for communication. As might be expected from such diversity, we enjoyed a broad ranging programme that included sessions on olfactory assessment, pheromone delivery, sexual sel- tion (human and animal), urinary proteins, anti-predator responses, scent organs and their function, individual recognition, species recognition, sexual development and sexual communication (the full programme can still be viewed on the CSiV website).

This volume presents the proceedings of "Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 11", hosted by the University of Liverpool and held July 25 - 28, 2006 at the University of Chester in the United Kingdom. Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 11 contains the latest research on chemical communication relevant to vertebrates, particularly focusing on new research since the last meeting in 2003. Topics covered include chemical ecology, biochemistry, behavior and neurobiology of both the main olfactory and vomeronasal systems of vertebrates, from amphibia to mammals including humans. A broad range of taxonomic groups and topics are discussed, including sections on new directions in semiochemistry, olfactory response and function, recognition within species, sexual communication, maternal-offspring communication, communication between species, and applications for zoo animal enrichment and pest control. The volume is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Bets Rasmussen and includes a special tribute chapter on her ground-breaking research on elephant communication.

About the Editors:

Dr. Jane L. Hurst is a Professor in the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK, where she heads the Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Research Group. Dr. Rob Beynon is also a Professor in the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK where he heads the Proteomics and Functional Genomics Research Group. Dr. S. Craig Roberts is a Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK where he is a member of the Evolutionary Psychology Research Group. Dr. Tristram Wyatt is the Director of Distance and Online Learning at the University of Oxford, Oxford, UK and also a research associate at the Department of Zoology.