Chemical Signaling in Aquatic Ecosystems

Abstract

Chemical information mediates many of the biotic relationships that shape aquatic communities. Mate attractants and courtship pheromones determine successful reproductive encounters. Conspecific and environmental chemical cues influence the distribution of settling larvae and the ability of organisms to navigate across great distances to suitable habitat. Allelopathic agents can determine winners and losers in competition over resources, while signals transmitted between mutualists facilitate cooperation. Substances emitted from predators and prey provide early warnings of imminent threats to prey, while guiding predators to their next meal. Each of these individual interactions contributes to the dynamic nature of populations and communities in aquatic ecosystems. In this article, we provide an overview of the roles of chemistry and fluid dynamics in chemical ecology, and highlight several ecological interactions and life history events that are significantly affected by chemical cues, signals, and defenses. We offer examples from the literature that emphasize a multidisciplinary approach, when possible, and include promising future directions for research in large‐scale aquatic chemical ecology.