The Chemical Ecology of Shallow-Water Antarctic Marine Invertebrates

9526610 Baker提议的研究计划是化学生态学跨学科方法的延续。在广义上的目标是表征和定量的化学介导的南极底栖无脊椎动物之间的生态关系。在两个野外季节有几个具体的目标要调查。研究将包括对成年南极海洋无脊椎动物和早期生活史阶段的化学防御的评估。研究人员将评估卵泡营养卵、胚胎和幼虫的生物活性。这是特别相关的，因为许多南极无脊椎动物在浮游生物中传播明显的嗜电性胚胎和幼虫，这些胚胎和幼虫需要两到六个月的时间才能发育。已经观察到彩色海绵将其色素作为防御剂，并将在海绵和其他彩色无脊椎动物中研究其功能作用。此外，将研究从已分离出次生代谢物的无脊椎动物中生物活性代谢物的浓度和封存。最后，将继续从无脊椎动物中分离和表征生物活性化合物，以评估其功能作用。该研究的重要方面是使用与生态学相关的生物测定法来指导在麦克默多站现场分离活性化学剂，并随后在我们的国内机构对这些代谢物进行表征。综上所述，该计划将对了解生物活性物质在南极海洋底栖生物生态中的性质和作用作出重大贡献。

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.