Spde/gc-ms analysis of volatile organic compounds in maned wolf urine: Comparison of males and females in breeding and nonbreeding seasons

CHED 445

Margaret E. Rountree, rountreeme@hendrix.edu1, C. Joi Chen, chencj@hendrix.edu1, Laura J. Broederdorf, broederdorflj@hendrix.edu1, Stephen R. Jackson, jacksonsr04@hendrix.edu1, Thomas E. Goodwin, goodwin@hendrix.edu1, Nucharin Songsasen, songsasenn@si.edu2, William K. Baker, wbaker@littlerock.org3, and Johannes PFG. Helsper, hans.helsper@wur.nl4. (1) Department of Chemistry, Hendrix College, 1600 Washington Avenue, Conway, AR 72032, (2) Department of Reproductive Sciences, Conservation and Research Center, Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA 22630, (3) Little Rock Zoo, Little Rock, AR 72205, (4) Plant Research International, Wageningen, Netherlands
Maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) are threatened with extinction; the wild population is estimated to be only a few thousand animals. There is currently an ongoing effort to maintain viable ex situ populations as a possible hedge against extinction, as well as to provide a research resource from which the biology and chemistry of these animals can be better understood. Maned wolf excreta are highly malodorous due to sulfur-containing compounds, and are believed to function in chemical communication via scent marking. In this study we compare and contrast the volatile organic compounds in male and female maned wolf urine in their breeding and non-breeding seasons. We are using automated solid phase dynamic extraction (SPDE) coupled with GC-MS in these analyses.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Organic Chemistry
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008