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

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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.