Methane is produced by methanogenic bacteria and some long-chain alkanes function as pheromones in certain animal species or as protective waxes in plants and fungi.
mˈɛθeɪn ɪz pɹədˈuːst baɪ mˌɛθɐnoʊdʒˈɛnɪk bæktˈɪɹiə ænd sˌʌm lˈɔŋtʃˈeɪn ˈælkeɪnz fˈʌŋkʃən æz fˈɛɹəmˌoʊnz ɪn sˈɜːʔn̩ ˈænɪməl spˈiːsiːz ɔːɹ æz pɹətˈɛktɪv wˈæksᵻz ɪn plˈænts ænd fˈʌŋɡi.