Chemical Defense in Marine Organisms

这个天然产物化学项目是一个合作项目， 生物学与化学结合的研究工作 旨在确定海洋生物 是为了控制和保护环境。 是 由有机和大分子化学联合支持， 生物海洋学计划。 化学防御的化学和生物基础 海洋植物和选定的海洋无脊椎动物将被 研究了 该项目将侧重于定义自然 产品化学“避免”海洋植物，柳珊瑚 和加勒比海的海鞘。 自然 特定海洋次级代谢产物的功能将是 定义了 该项目的具体组成部分如下： (1)“避免”的生物活性成分的化学研究 海洋藻类，包括那些以前没有调查过的 属Vidalia，Wrightiella，Bryothamnion和Trichogloea;（2） 加勒比柳珊瑚的化学研究，例如 拟腹蛇属、真腹蛇属、狭腹蛇属及类似属 调查“避免”的Didemnid海鞘;（3） 开发摄食抑制生物测定法，以用于（ 珊瑚礁栖息地），以衡量摄食威慑和避免 现象;（4）跨学科的延续 项目，与海洋生态学家，探索自然功能 海洋防御性化学物质的影响，那就是它们对摄食的影响， 繁殖、幼虫定居现象和生存。

This natural products chemistry project is a collaborative research effort at the interface of biology and chemistry directed toward identifying the chemicals that marine organisms produced to control and defend their environment. It is supported jointly by the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry and Biological Oceanographic Programs. The chemical and biological foundations of chemical defense in marine plants and selected marine invertebrates will be investigated. The project will focus upon defining the natural products chemistry of "avoided" marine plants, gorgonian corals and didemnid ascidians found in the Caribbean Sea. The natural functions of specific marine secondary metabolites will be defined. Specific components of this project are as follows: (1) chemical studies of the bioactive components of "avoided" marine algae, including those of the previously un-investigated genera Vidalia, Wrightiella, Bryothamnion, and Trichogloea; (2) chemical studies of Caribbean gorgonian corals, such as those of the genera Pseudopterogorgia, Eunicea, Lophogorgia, and similar investigations of "avoided" didemnid ascidians; (3) the development of a feeding inhibition bioassay, to be utilized (in reef habitats) to measure feeding deterrence and avoidance phenomena; and (4) the continuation of an interdisciplinary program, with marine ecologists, exploring the natural functions of marine defensive chemicals, that is their effects on feeding, reproduction, larval settling phenomena and survival.