Chemically Mediated Interactions in a Sedimentary Assemblage

不同营养级物种之间联系的化学调节是生态系统的一个重要特征。 该提案研究了以中营养级生物为主的沉积群落，这些生物产生的毒素影响较高和较低营养级。 据推测，多毛类蠕虫 Notomastus lobatus 向沉积物中分泌的一溴苯酚毒素会影响微生物群落的活性和组成、内动物群的补充以及沉积物捕食者的捕食/干扰。 提出了实验，检查功能组和细菌总群落对一溴苯酚的剂量反应、幼虫沉降和成体动物群活动的化感化学抑制，以及捕食者活动与沉积物中一溴苯酚存在的关系。

Chemical mediation of linkages among species at different trophic levels is an important characteristic of ecosystems. This proposal examines a sedimentary community dominated at middle trophic levels by organisms which produce toxins that influence higher and lower trophic levels. The exudation of the toxin monobromophenol by the polychaete worm Notomastus lobatus into the sediment is hypothesized to influence the activity and composition of the microbial community, recruitment of infauna, and predation/disturbance by sediment feeding predators. Experiments are proposed which examine the dose response of functional groups and the total community of bacteria to monobromophenol, allelochemical inhibition of larval settlement and adult activity of infauna, and the relationship of predator activity to the presence of monobromophenol in the sediment.