Mediation of Algal - Opisthobranch-Predator Interaction by Algal Secondary Metabolities

海兔等食草性异型软体动物具有丰富的次生代谢物来源，具有潜在的生物医学应用价值。关于这些化合物的自然功能的假说在过去二十年里一直存在。然而，我们对这些化合物如何调节藻类-鱼类-捕食者相互作用的了解仍然很差。这项研究将涉及：1)海藻次生代谢物是否阻止了食草性后桥类的摄食；2)后支管是否只能从它们通常捕食的藻类中隔离出次生代谢物；3)次生代谢物是否分布在食草性后支管内，以最大限度地阻止捕食者；4)藻类代谢物的选择性固定和修饰模式是否最符合a)最大限度地提高鱼类的防御能力，或b)最大限度地减少对鱼类的毒性影响。这项研究的结果将促进我们对植食性动物隔离植物次生代谢物的生态学的理解。

Herbivorous opisthobranch molluscs such as sea hares have been a rich source of interesting secondary metabolites with potential biomedical applications. Hypotheses concerning the natural function of these compounds have been extant over the past two decades. However, our understanding of how these compounds mediate algal-opisthobranch-predator interactions is still very poor. The research proposed here will address 1) whether feeding by herbivorous opisthobranchs is deterred by algal secondary metabolites, 2) whether herbivorous opisthobranchs can sequester secondary metabolites only from algae that they normally consume, 3) whether secondary metabolites are distributed within herbivorous opisthobranchs so as to maximize their potential for deterring predators; or, alternatively, so as to minimize their toxic effect upon the opisthobranch, and 4) whether patterns of selective sequestration and modification of algal metabolites are most compatable with a) maximizing defensive properties of the opisthobranch, or b) minimizing toxic effects to the opisthobranch. The results of this research will advance our understanding of the ecology of herbivores that sequester plant secondary metabolites.