Marine Chemical Ecology: Chemical Signals and Cues Structure Marine Populations, Communities, and Ecosystems

Hay, Mark E.

doi:10.1146/annurev.marine.010908.163708

Cited by 436 publications

(341 citation statements)

References 127 publications

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“…We explain chemical ritualization among terrestrial plants and insects, and also show how it applies to the excretions of mammals (for species in aquatic environments, e.g. review of [29]). We aim to describe different evolutionary trajectories of refinement, which generate a particular dynamic evolution of communication.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The origin and dynamic evolution of chemical information transfer

2010

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Although chemical communication is the most widespread form of communication, its evolution and diversity are not well understood. By integrating studies of a wide range of terrestrial plants and animals, we show that many chemicals are emitted, which can unintentionally provide information (cues) and, therefore, act as direct precursors for the evolution of intentional communication (signals). Depending on the content, design and the original function of the cue, there are predictable ways that selection can enhance the communicative function of chemicals. We review recent progress on how efficacybased selection by receivers leads to distinct evolutionary trajectories of chemical communication.Because the original function of a cue may channel but also constrain the evolution of functional communication, we show that a broad perspective on multiple selective pressures acting upon chemicals provides important insights into the origin and dynamic evolution of chemical information transfer. Finally, we argue that integrating chemical ecology into communication theory may significantly enhance our understanding of the evolution, the design and the content of signals in general.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The origin and dynamic evolution of chemical information transfer

2010

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“…Although smothering, shading, and abrasion by a limited number of seaweeds have been shown to negatively (13,(17)(18)(19) or positively (20) affect corals, chemically-mediated competition between adult corals and seaweeds has received limited attention. Numerous marine benthic organisms produce secondary metabolites that function to deter consumers or suppress competitors (21). In field studies, seaweed secondary metabolites have been proposed as likely agents affecting coral mortality (17,22), but only one investigation has demonstrated seaweed allelopathy (against a soft coral) under ecologically realistic field conditions (23).…”

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confidence: 99%

Chemically rich seaweeds poison corals when not controlled by herbivores

Rasher

Hay

2010

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Coral reefs are in dramatic global decline, with seaweeds commonly replacing corals. It is unclear, however, whether seaweeds harm corals directly or colonize opportunistically following their decline and then suppress coral recruitment. In the Caribbean and tropical Pacific, we show that, when protected from herbivores, ∼40 to 70% of common seaweeds cause bleaching and death of coral tissue when in direct contact. For seaweeds that harmed coral tissues, their lipid-soluble extracts also produced rapid bleaching. Coral bleaching and mortality was limited to areas of direct contact with seaweeds or their extracts. These patterns suggest that allelopathic seaweed-coral interactions can be important on reefs lacking herbivore control of seaweeds, and that these interactions involve lipid-soluble metabolites transferred via direct contact. Seaweeds were rapidly consumed when placed on a Pacific reef protected from fishing but were left intact or consumed at slower rates on an adjacent fished reef, indicating that herbivory will suppress seaweeds and lower frequency of allelopathic damage to corals if reefs retain intact food webs. With continued removal of herbivores from coral reefs, seaweeds are becoming more common. This occurrence will lead to increasing frequency of seaweed-coral contacts, increasing allelopathic suppression of remaining corals, and continuing decline of reef corals.A s foundation species, corals promote marine biodiversity, support a multitude of ecosystem functions, and provide goods and services critical to human societies (1, 2). However, coral reefs are in global decline, with reefs commonly converting from species-rich and topographically complex communities dominated by corals to species-poor and topographically simplified communities dominated by seaweeds (3-7). In the Caribbean, average cover of hard corals has declined by ∼80% in the last 3 decades (5) and more than 30% of the world's coral species face elevated risk of extinction (6). Monitoring (7), field experiments (8-10), and a meta-analysis (11) all indicate that herbivory is critical in preventing seaweed replacement of corals. However, the extent to which seaweeds drive these shifts by outcompeting adult corals in the absence of herbivory, or proliferate only after coral mortality is triggered by other causes (such as disease or bleaching) is debated (12-15). To compound this uncertainty, studies addressing seaweed-coral competition have: (i) produced variable results, (ii) rarely been conducted using numerous species-pairings, (iii) varied in experimental techniques (complicating comparisons), and (iv) sometimes been conducted in laboratory settings lacking ecologically realistic conditions (e.g., flow and turbulence). Thus, the general importance of competition between established seaweeds and corals remains uncertain. An understanding of mechanisms determining the outcomes of seaweed-coral interactions, and of how herbivory mediates these interactions, is needed if reefs are to be better managed, especially with the continu...

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“…S econdary metabolites mediate countless biological interactions including mate recognition, competition for space, prey detection, and defense against adversaries including consumers and pathogens (1,2). Foulers, pathogens, parasites, and symbionts establish initial physical interactions with hosts via surface contact, and biotic surfaces may represent particularly important sites of chemical signaling (3).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry reveals surface-mediated antifungal chemical defense of a tropical seaweed

Lane

Nyadong

Galhena

et al. 2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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198

169

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Organism surfaces represent signaling sites for attraction of allies and defense against enemies. However, our understanding of these signals has been impeded by methodological limitations that have precluded direct fine-scale evaluation of compounds on native surfaces. Here, we asked whether natural products from the red macroalga Callophycus serratus act in surface-mediated defense against pathogenic microbes. Bromophycolides and callophycoic acids from algal extracts inhibited growth of Lindra thalassiae, a marine fungal pathogen, and represent the largest group of algal antifungal chemical defenses reported to date. Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) imaging revealed that surface-associated bromophycolides were found exclusively in association with distinct surface patches at concentrations sufficient for fungal inhibition; DESI-MS also indicated the presence of bromophycolides within internal algal tissue. This is among the first examples of natural product imaging on biological surfaces, suggesting the importance of secondary metabolites in localized ecological interactions, and illustrating the potential of DESI-MS in understanding chemically-mediated biological processes.imaging mass spectrometry ͉ macroalga ͉ natural product ͉ surface-associated

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Marine Chemical Ecology: Chemical Signals and Cues Structure Marine Populations, Communities, and Ecosystems

Cited by 436 publications

References 127 publications

The origin and dynamic evolution of chemical information transfer

The origin and dynamic evolution of chemical information transfer

Chemically rich seaweeds poison corals when not controlled by herbivores

Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry reveals surface-mediated antifungal chemical defense of a tropical seaweed

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