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

植食性后鳃类软体动物如海兔 丰富的有趣的次级代谢产物来源， 潜在的生物医学应用。 有关的假设 这些化合物的天然功能已经存在于 过去二十年 然而，我们对这些问题的理解 化合物介导藻类-后鳃-捕食者相互作用是 仍然很穷。 本研究将解决以下问题：1） 食草后鳃类的进食是否受到 藻类次生代谢产物，2）是否草食性 后鳃类只能从 藻类，他们通常消费，3）是否次要 代谢物分布在食草后鳃类中 以尽量发挥其阻吓掠食者的潜力;或 或者，为了最大限度地减少其对 后鳃，和4）是否模式的选择性 藻类代谢物的螯合和修饰是最重要的 与a）最大限度地提高防御性能的 后鳃，或B）最小化对 后鳃 这项研究的结果将推动我们的 了解食草动物的生态学， 次级代谢产物

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.