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Is the Perception of Dietary Odour Cues Linked to Sexual Selection in Humans?

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Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 12

Abstract

A growing body of evidence suggests that various animal species use diet-associated cues to assess the condition of a potential mate. Such cues are not restricted to the visual channel (e.g. brightness of colouration) but could also be perceived by olfaction. Here, we first summarise current knowledge about the role of diet in vertebrate semiochemistry. Consequently, we employ an adaptationist approach to communication to explore whether cues to diet are or were subject to sexual selection in humans. These thoughts are speculative as research in this area is rather fragmental.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Jindra Havlickova for many helpful comments and proof-reading. JH is supported by Czech Science Foundation grant (GACR P407/10/1303) and Charles University Research Centre (UNCE 204004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

    Jitka Fialová & Jan Havlíček

  2. Department of Psychology, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, UK

    S. Craig Roberts

Authors
  1. Jitka Fialová
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  2. S. Craig Roberts
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  3. Jan Havlíček
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Correspondence to Jitka Fialová .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife R, Im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V, Berlin, 10252, Berlin, Germany

    Marion L East

  2. , Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife R, Im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V, Berlin, 10252, Germany

    Martin Dehnhard

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Fialová, J., Roberts, S.C., Havlíček, J. (2013). Is the Perception of Dietary Odour Cues Linked to Sexual Selection in Humans?. In: East, M., Dehnhard, M. (eds) Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 12. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5927-9_12

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