U.S. Thailand Cooperative Research: Feeding Deterrence of Herbivorous Coral Reef Fishes as an Indicator of Chemical Defenses of Tropical Marine Algae

该提案要求提供资金，允许斯蒂芬·G博士。纳尔逊， Valerie J. Paul和Steven阿梅斯伯里，海洋实验室， 关岛大学，与普吉岛的Hansa Chansang博士合作 泰国海洋生物中心，为期24个月， 化学生态学合作研究项目 海洋植物与草食动物的相互作用 海洋气象 植物将被筛选，以确定它们是否作为 对热带食草鱼类的化学防御。 的 生物活性代谢物将被分离， 定义，并进一步研究有用的属性。 的 合作者将测试这些生物体 对珊瑚鱼来说最具威慑力的是 丰富的天然产品来源。 那些代谢物 显示这种威慑将进一步研究，以确定 他们是否拥有感兴趣的财产， 生物技术产业。 化学生态学领域已经产生了宝贵的生物学成果， 以及关于植物-食草动物和其他 在陆地栖息地的捕食者-猎物的相互作用， 对植物代谢物的自然功能知之甚少 在海洋环境中。 调查的作用 这些代谢物作为抗微生物剂、抗菌剂和/或 捕食者威慑剂可以提供一个理由， 开发这些化合物的未来应用。 许多 从海洋生物中分离出的独特代谢物可能是一种 未来生物技术应用的资源。 的 科学家们将比较化学和生物学结果 已经在关岛获得了这些拟议的结果 在普吉岛更多样化的珊瑚礁栖息地进行研究， 泰国 合作者都是德高望重的科学家 in the field领域of this research研究. 本项目将允许 他们联合收割机结合他们的才能和利益， 效益 该项目与《公约》的目标有关， 发展中国家科学计划，旨在 提高美国科学家与 工程师和发展中国家的同行 通过科学信息、思想、技能的交流， 和技术，并通过在共同问题上的合作， 效益

This proposal requests funds to permit Drs. Stephen G. Nelson, Valerie J. Paul, and Steven Amesbury, Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, to pursue with Dr. Hansa Chansang, Phuket Marine Biological Center, Thailand, for a period of 24 months, a program of cooperative research on the chemical ecology of marine plant-herbivore interactions. Metabolites of marine plants will be screened to determine whether they serve as chemical defenses against tropical herbivorous fishes. The biologically active metabolites will be isolated, chemically defined, and further studied for useful properties. The collaborators will test the hypothesis that those organisms that are most deterrent toward feeding by reef fishes are the richest sources of natural products. Those metabolites that show such deterrence will be studied further to determine whether they possess properties which are of interest to the biotechnological industries. The field of chemical ecology has yielded valuable biological and ecological information about plant-herbivore and other predator-prey interactions in terrestrial habitats, but much less is known about the natural functions of plant metabolites in the marine environment. Investigations of the role of these metabolites as antimicrobial, antifouling, and/or predator deterrent agents may provide a rationale for developing future applications for these compounds. Many unique metabolites isolated from marine organisms may be a resource for future biotechnological applications. The scientists will compare chemical and biological results already obtained on Guam with results of these proposed studies in the more diverse coral reef habitats of Phuket, Thailand. The collaborators are highly respected scientists in the field of this research. The present project will allow them to combine their talents and interests for mutual benefit. This project is relevant to the objectives of the Science in Developing Countries Program which seeks to increase the level of cooperation between U.S. scientists and engineers and their counterparts in developing countries through the exchange of scientific information, ideas, skills, and techniques and through collaboration on problems of mutual benefit.