Final answer:
Primer pheromones are responsible for triggering long-term physiological behaviors in animals, involving complex neural pathways and affecting various reproductive and social processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Primer pheromones trigger long-term (physiological) behaviors in animals. These chemical signals are crucial for a wide array of functions, including reproduction behaviors, mother-infant bonding, and establishing social hierarchies. Unlike other odors, pheromone signals are processed by a different neural pathway, primarily involving the vomeronasal organ (VNO), the amygdala, and the hypothalamus -- key areas for reproductive physiology and behavior.
Primer pheromones do not simply affect immediate behaviors but can modify physiological states over time, influencing puberty, reproductive cycles, and even preventing embryonic implantation in some species.