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

草食性蛇鳃软体动物，如海兔，已成为具有潜在生物医学应用价值的有趣次生代谢物的丰富来源。在过去的二十年里，关于这些化合物的天然功能的假说一直存在。然而，我们对这些化合物如何介导藻类-蛇鳃-捕食者相互作用的理解仍然很差。本文提出的研究将解决以下问题：1)草食性栉水母的取食是否会受到藻类次生代谢物的阻碍；2)草食性栉水母是否只能从它们通常食用的藻类中吸收次生代谢物；3)次生代谢物是否分布在草食性蛇分枝中，以最大限度地发挥其威慑捕食者的潜力；或者，为了最小化它们对蛇分枝的毒性作用，以及4)藻类代谢物的选择性封存和修饰模式是否与a)最大化蛇分枝的防御特性，或b)最小化对蛇分枝的毒性作用最相容。本研究结果将促进我们对吸收植物次生代谢物的食草动物生态学的理解。

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.