Chemical Ecology: The Ecological Impacts of Marine Natural Products
: Marine "holobionts"—the host and its associated microbial community—rely on chemical signaling to maintain their relationship. In many cases, the "defensive" chemicals attributed to sponges or tunicates are actually produced by their symbiotic bacteria to protect the entire holobiont from predators or pathogens. 3. Impacts of Environmental Change Chemical ecology: the ecological impacts of mar...
Marine chemical ecology is the study of chemically mediated interactions among ocean organisms, ranging from bacteria and phytoplankton to benthic invertebrates and fish. Often described as the "language of life" in the sea, these chemical signals—or infochemicals—structure populations and ecosystems by regulating critical behaviors and life processes. Chemical Ecology: The Ecological Impacts of Marine Natural
For a deeper dive into this field, specialized texts offer comprehensive reviews of these interactions: Impacts of Environmental Change Marine chemical ecology is
Marine Chemical Ecology by James B. McClintock and Bill J. Baker offers a conceptual synthesis covering the field from molecular to community levels. Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
: Generalist consumers use primary metabolites (e.g., amino acids, sugars) to find food, while specialists may target unique secondary metabolites produced only by their specific host. For example, tube-nosed seabirds use dimethyl sulfide (DMS), released when zooplankton graze on phytoplankton, to locate productive foraging areas from distances up to 10 km.
: Factors like ocean warming and acidification can alter the production, bioavailability, or perception of chemical cues.