U.S.-Australia Cooperative Research: Chemical Defense Mechanisms of Marine Annelids

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This award will support collaborative research between Dr. Arthur S. Goldberg of Long Island University at Southampton and Dr. John C. Coll of James Cook University of North Queensland, Australia. This research is to investigate indicators, such as, toxicity, of the presence of chemical defense substances in worms of the marine annelid family. Chemical studies will be carried out aimed at isolating and determining the structures of those compounds used for chemical defense. Building on these studies, the effects of these chemical defenses on the diverse marine ecosystems found in the coastal waters of central and northeastern Australia will be explored. The project represent excellent collaboration between the Australian group and its interest in marine natural products and chemical ecology, and the Goldberg work on marine repellent toxins. This is important fundamental work in the chemistry of worms of the marine annelid family and the role they play in the marine environment, as well as having potential for isolation of bioactive compounds with useful applications.