Chemical ecology of seaweeds
Amsler, C.D. (2012). Chemical ecology of seaweeds, in: Wiencke, C. et al. (Ed.) Seaweed biology: Novel insights into ecophysiology, ecology and utilization. Ecological Studies, 219: pp. 177-188 In: Wiencke, C.; Bischof, K. (Ed.) (2012). Seaweed biology: Novel insights into ecophysiology, ecology and utilization. Ecological Studies, 219. Springer-Verlag: Berlin, Heidelberg. ISBN 978-3-642-28450-2. xiii, 510 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28451-9, more In: Heldmaier, G. et al. (Ed.) Ecological Studies. Springer: Heidelberg; Berlin. ISSN 0070-8356; e-ISSN 2196-971X, more |  |
| Abstract | This chapter summarizes the breadth of seaweed chemical ecology. Sensory chemical ecology includes chemical communication within and between species, whether intentional or not, as well as seaweed spores sensing their chemical and physicochemical environment during and preceding settlement. Defensive chemical ecology includes chemical defenses mounted against predators, pathogens, biofoulers (epibionts), and competitors. Such defenses can be produced constitutively or in some cases their production can be increased when the seaweed is attacked. Most commonly the defensive compounds are organic molecules but reactive oxygen species are also important in defenses against pathogens. In some seaweeds, sensory and defensive aspects overlap as waterborne chemical cues released by seaweeds when under attack by herbivores can induce defenses in neighboring algae and attract predators of the herbivores. Defenses against biofoulers can also involve interfering with chemical communications between biofilm bacteria. |
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