Allelopathy in Benthic and Littoral Areas: Case Studies on Allelochemicals from Benthic Cyanobacteria and Submersed Macrophytes

Abstract

Principles and Practices of Plant Ecology other. Submersed macrophytes can be overgrown by epiphytic algae and are surrounded by other macrophytes and phytoplankton. The particular spatial setup in these habitats makes allelopathy a powerful strategy. Released compounds can more or less directly reach and act on target organisms. Allelopathic compounds may either be released into the water or transferred by direct cell-eell contact from donor to recipient. This chapter is not intended as a review on allelopathy in benthic and littoral areas. Two case studies of allelopathic interactions are discussed: 1) photosynthesis inhibitors in the benthic cyanobacteria Fischerella muscicola and F ambigua, and 2) algicidal hydrolyzable polyphenols from the submersed macrophyte Myriophyllum spicatum.