The Chemical Ecology of Shallow-Water Antarctic Marine Invertebrates

9526610贝克拟议的研究计划是一个跨学科的方法化学生态学的延续。 从广义上讲，目标是描述和量化南极底栖无脊椎动物之间化学介导的生态关系。 有几个具体的目标，以调查在两个领域的季节。 研究将包括评估成年无脊椎海洋无脊椎动物的化学防御以及早期生命史阶段。 研究者将评价卵、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在浮游生物中传播明显的卵营养型胚胎和幼虫，这些胚胎和幼虫需要两到六个月的时间才能发育。 据观察，有色海绵使用其色素作为防御剂，其功能作用将在海绵和其他有色无脊椎动物中进行研究。此外，生物活性代谢物的浓度和螯合将在无脊椎动物的次级代谢物已被分离。 最后，将继续从无脊椎动物中分离和鉴定生物活性化合物，以评估其功能作用。该研究的重要方面是使用生态相关的生物测定，以指导现场分离，在麦默多站，活性化学剂，并随后在我们的家庭机构的这些代谢物的特性。总之，拟议的计划将作出重大贡献的性质和作用的生物活性剂在南极海洋底栖生物生态的理解。

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.