Physical properties of odorants affect behavior of trained detection dogs during close-quarters searches
Abstract Trained detection dogs have a unique ability to find the sources of target odors in complex fluid environments. How dogs derive information about the source of an odor from an odor plume comprised of odorants with different physical properties, such as diffusivity, is currently unknown. Two...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55323-y |
| _version_ | 1797275145127067648 |
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| author | Daniel Mejia Lydia Burnett Nicholas Hebdon Peter Stevens Alexis Shiber Clay Cranston Lauryn DeGreeff Lindsay D. Waldrop |
| author_facet | Daniel Mejia Lydia Burnett Nicholas Hebdon Peter Stevens Alexis Shiber Clay Cranston Lauryn DeGreeff Lindsay D. Waldrop |
| author_sort | Daniel Mejia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Trained detection dogs have a unique ability to find the sources of target odors in complex fluid environments. How dogs derive information about the source of an odor from an odor plume comprised of odorants with different physical properties, such as diffusivity, is currently unknown. Two volatile chemicals associated with explosive detection, ammonia (NH3, derived from ammonium nitrate-based explosives) and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (2E1H, associated with composition C4 plastic explosives) were used to ascertain the effects of the physical properties of odorants on the search behavior and motion of trained dogs. NH3 has a diffusivity 3.6 times that of 2E1H. Fourteen civilian detection dogs were recruited to train on each target odorant using controlled odor mimic permeation systems as training aids over 6 weeks and then tested in a controlled-environment search trial where behavior, motion, and search success were analyzed. Our results indicate the target-odorant influences search motion and time spent in the stages of searching, with dogs spending more time in larger areas while localizing NH3. This aligns with the greater diffusivity of NH3 driving diffusion-dominated odor transport when dogs are close to the odor source in contrast to the advection-driven transport of 2E1H at the same distances. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:10:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-68342108dbc3415bab86db5885b569e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:10:06Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-68342108dbc3415bab86db5885b569e62024-03-05T18:43:19ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-02-0114111110.1038/s41598-024-55323-yPhysical properties of odorants affect behavior of trained detection dogs during close-quarters searchesDaniel Mejia0Lydia Burnett1Nicholas Hebdon2Peter Stevens3Alexis Shiber4Clay Cranston5Lauryn DeGreeff6Lindsay D. Waldrop7Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman UniversityGlobal Forensic and Justice Center and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International UniversitySchmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman UniversityThe Scentsable K9Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman UniversitySchmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman UniversityGlobal Forensic and Justice Center and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International UniversitySchmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman UniversityAbstract Trained detection dogs have a unique ability to find the sources of target odors in complex fluid environments. How dogs derive information about the source of an odor from an odor plume comprised of odorants with different physical properties, such as diffusivity, is currently unknown. Two volatile chemicals associated with explosive detection, ammonia (NH3, derived from ammonium nitrate-based explosives) and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (2E1H, associated with composition C4 plastic explosives) were used to ascertain the effects of the physical properties of odorants on the search behavior and motion of trained dogs. NH3 has a diffusivity 3.6 times that of 2E1H. Fourteen civilian detection dogs were recruited to train on each target odorant using controlled odor mimic permeation systems as training aids over 6 weeks and then tested in a controlled-environment search trial where behavior, motion, and search success were analyzed. Our results indicate the target-odorant influences search motion and time spent in the stages of searching, with dogs spending more time in larger areas while localizing NH3. This aligns with the greater diffusivity of NH3 driving diffusion-dominated odor transport when dogs are close to the odor source in contrast to the advection-driven transport of 2E1H at the same distances.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55323-y |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Mejia Lydia Burnett Nicholas Hebdon Peter Stevens Alexis Shiber Clay Cranston Lauryn DeGreeff Lindsay D. Waldrop Physical properties of odorants affect behavior of trained detection dogs during close-quarters searches Scientific Reports |
| title | Physical properties of odorants affect behavior of trained detection dogs during close-quarters searches |
| title_full | Physical properties of odorants affect behavior of trained detection dogs during close-quarters searches |
| title_fullStr | Physical properties of odorants affect behavior of trained detection dogs during close-quarters searches |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical properties of odorants affect behavior of trained detection dogs during close-quarters searches |
| title_short | Physical properties of odorants affect behavior of trained detection dogs during close-quarters searches |
| title_sort | physical properties of odorants affect behavior of trained detection dogs during close quarters searches |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55323-y |
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