Chemical Defenses of Ascidians Against Predators

Stoecker, Diane K.

doi:10.2307/1939041

Cited by 142 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Inorganic chemical defenses of ascidians were first explored by Stoecker (1978Stoecker ( , 1980a before the diversity of organic secondary metabolites in the tissues of these animals was fully realized. Subsequent studies have examined strategies used by ascidians to protect themselves from predation (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Feeding assays conducted with fish and crabs yielded a minimum deterrent concentration of vanadyl sulfate or sodium vanadate of f 100 Ag/g dry mass, which translated to a range of 1250-3333 Ag/g wet tissue mass (Stoecker, 1980a; and references cited therein). Stoecker (1980b) found 2 of 35 ascidian species from Bermuda contained wet tissue concentrations of vanadium within this range.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3). Vanadium complexed in ascidian tissues, however, occurs at lower oxidative states than it does in the salts used for feeding assays (Stoecker, 1980a); therefore, the palatability of naturally occurring heavy metal complexes has yet to be established. In any case, the anti-predatory functions of heavy metals such as vanadium were not addressed in the present study and may represent an additional inorganic chemical defense for some ascidian species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ascidians that sequester acids within their tunic have a lower incidence of predation by gastropods (Young, 1986). Fish feeding assays conducted with pieces of ascidian tunic have demonstrated that species that contain acids are less palatable than those that lack them (Stoecker, 1980a). These assays, however, did not decouple the possible defenses of acids from secondary metabolites that may decrease palatability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These assays, however, did not decouple the possible defenses of acids from secondary metabolites that may decrease palatability. Heavy metals, such as vanadium, have also been proposed to provide ascidians with anti-predatory and anti-fouling defenses (Stoecker, 1978(Stoecker, , 1980a, but the validity of this hypothesis was subsequently disputed (Parry, 1984;Davis and Wright, 1989;reviewed in Pawlik, 1993;however, see Discussion).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Anti-predatory chemical defenses of ascidians: secondary metabolites or inorganic acids?

Pisut

Pawlik

2002

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

117

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Both secondary metabolites and inorganic acids have been hypothesized to protect adult ascidians from predation, raising the possibility of alternative defensive strategies in these sessile, soft-bodied, benthic invertebrates. The objective of this investigation was to determine if ascidian species from the Western Atlantic have these chemical defenses against fish predators, and if so, to determine their location within the body of the ascidian. The palatability of crude organic extracts of whole ascidians, as well as the dissected tunics, viscera, and gonads (when possible) were determined at natural volumetric concentrations using laboratory feeding assays with the bluehead wrasse, Thalassoma bifasciatum. Acidified food pellets were also assayed to determine the effect of lowered pH on predation. Sixteen of the 17 species tested had deterrent organic extracts from some region of the body (Aplidium constellatum, Aplidium stellatum, Ascidia interrupta, Ascidia nigra, Botrylloides sp., Clavellina picta, Didemnum candidum, Didemnum vanderhosti, Diplosoma listerianum, Ecteinasci-dia turbinata, Eudistoma capsulatum, Eudistoma hepaticum, Rhopalaea abdominalis, Styela plicata, Symplegma rubra, and Trididemnum solidum). The location of the deterrent secondary metabolites was isolated in the gonad in all three solitary species, raising the possibility that these defenses are passed on to eggs or larvae. Nine ascidian species sequestered acid in their tunics (A. interrupta, A. nigra, A. stellatum, D. candidum, D. vanderhosti, E. capsulatum, E. hepaticum, R. abdominalis, and T. solidum) at levels that were effective in deterring fish predation (pH V 3.0). Only one species (Botrylloides nigrum) had neither chemical defense. Results of this study indicate that there is not a clear trade-off between the presence of secondary metabolites and inorganic acid defenses in ascidians, suggesting that 0022-0981/02/$ -see front matter D 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 0 2 2 -0 9 8 1 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 0 2 3 -0

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Anti-predatory chemical defenses of ascidians: secondary metabolites or inorganic acids?

Pisut

Pawlik

2002

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

117

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Innovating Environmentally Sustainable Materials Platforms by Harnessing Coastal Marine Tunicates

Hong,

Schnetzer,

Lavoine

et al. 2024

ChemSusChem

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The most influential technological innovations and societal progress lie at the intersection of scientific disciplines. Today, more than ever, biology assumes a more central and participatory role at this confluence. Within the context of this scientific inter‐disciplinarity, the current effort was undertaken to explore the ecology of invasive tunicates, marine invertebrates increasingly considered a nuisance to the ecology of coastal ecosystems, yet potentially a resource for diverse applications in materials chemistry, construction, composites, and engineering. The intention of this perspective is to stimulate conversation and discussion with respect to benthic tunicates, a valuable yet underappreciated biological resource, which can be converted to cellulose nanocrystals, one of the most important bio‐based materials sourced today. It will also attempt to consolidate current understandings of the ecology of tunicates and how potential material exploitation can be mutually compatible and compliant with efforts to protect coastal ecosystems and aquaculture which are currently inundated or threatened by invasive tunicates.

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Observations of a novel predatory gull behavior on an invasive ascidian: A new consequence of coastal urban sprawl?

2019

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Coastal urbanization has a dramatic effect on both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, altering resources such as food or space. Many species have shifted their ranges in response to anthropogenic pressures, resulting in novel species interactions. Here, we report an observation of a novel foraging behavior of the European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus): the capture and consumption of the widespread sea squirt Ciona intestinalis from under floating pontoons in a recreational marina in Ireland. Multiple gulls were observed performing a complex, multi‐step manipulation of several C. intestinalis individuals to remove their cellulose‐based tunic, which remained unconsumed. Further avenues of investigation are discussed, and hypotheses concerning possible ecosystem effects of novel ecological interactions occurring in proliferating artificial environments are presented.

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Chemical Defenses of Ascidians Against Predators

Cited by 142 publications

References 27 publications

Anti-predatory chemical defenses of ascidians: secondary metabolites or inorganic acids?

Anti-predatory chemical defenses of ascidians: secondary metabolites or inorganic acids?

Innovating Environmentally Sustainable Materials Platforms by Harnessing Coastal Marine Tunicates

Observations of a novel predatory gull behavior on an invasive ascidian: A new consequence of coastal urban sprawl?

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