Chemical Ecology
Pheromone
A chemical substance produced and released by an organism that affects the behavior or physiology of other members of the same species. Used for communication about mating, alarm, territory, and trails.
Biological Context
Ants use pheromones to mark trails to food sources. Moths release sex pheromones detectable from miles away. Alarm pheromones trigger defensive behavior in social insects. Pheromones are a fundamental communication system, especially in invertebrates.
Business Application
Business pheromones: the subtle signals that spread through organizations—body language in meetings, email tone, office atmosphere. These informal signals often communicate more than explicit statements.