The Chemical Ecology of Shallow-Water Antarctic Marine Invertebrates

9526610贝克拟议的研究计划是对化学生态学跨学科方法的延续。广义的目标是描述和量化南极底栖无脊椎动物之间以化学为中介的生态关系。在两个野外季节中，有几个具体的目标需要调查。研究将包括对成年南极海洋无脊椎动物的化学防御能力以及早期生活史阶段的评估。研究人员将评估卵磷脂营养卵、胚胎和幼虫的生物活性。这一点特别重要，因为许多南极无脊椎动物都有明显的卵磷脂营养胚胎和幼虫，在浮游生物中需要两到六个月的时间才能发育。已经观察到有色海绵利用它们的色素作为防御剂，它们在海绵和其他有色无脊椎动物中的功能作用将被研究。此外，还将研究已分离出次生代谢物的无脊椎动物体内生物活性代谢物的浓度和隔离情况。最后，将继续从无脊椎动物中分离和鉴定生物活性化合物，以评估它们的功能作用。这项研究的重要方面是使用与生态相关的生物测定来指导在麦克默多站现场分离活性化学制剂，以及随后在我们的国内机构对这些代谢物进行表征。总之，拟议的计划将对理解生物活性物质的性质和在南极海洋底栖生物生态中的作用做出重大贡献。

9526610 Baker The proposed research program is a continuation of an interdisciplinary approach to chemical ecology. The objectives in a broad sense are the characterization and quantification of chemically mediated ecological relationships among antarctic benthic invertebrates. There are several specific objectives to investigate during two field seasons. Research will involve an evaluation of chemical defenses in adult antarctic marine invertebrates and also early life history stages. Investigators will evaluate lecithotrophic eggs, embryos and larvae for bioactivity. This is particularly relevant as many Antarctic invertebrates broadcast conspicuous lecithotrophic embryos and larvae which require two to six months to develop while in the plankton. It has been observed that colored sponges use their pigments as defensive agents, and their functional role will be investigated in sponges and in other colored invertebrates. Furthermore, bioactive metabolite concentration and sequestration will be investigated in invertebrates from which secondary metabolites have been isolated. And finally work will continue on the isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from invertebrates for the purpose of evaluating their functional role. Significant aspects of the research are the use of ecologically relevant bioassays to guide the isolation, on-site at McMurdo Station, of the active chemical agents, and subsequent characterization of those metabolites at our home institutions. In summary, the proposed program will make a significant contribution to the understanding of the nature and role of bioactive agents in the ecology of the Antarctic marine benthos.