ISSN:
1432-1939
Keywords:
Brown algae
;
Biogeography
;
Chemical defenses
;
Herbivory
;
Polyphenolic compounds
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary Many tropical brown algae have low levels of polyphenolic compounds and are readily consumed by herbivorous fish. In contrast, temperate brown algae often produce large quantities of phenolic compounds causing them to be distasteful to herbivorous gastropods and sea urchins. We hypothesized that tropical brown algae do not use phenolic compounds as antiherbivore defenses because these compounds are not effective deterrents against tropical fish. To test our hypothesis, we assessed the ability of extracts from 8 tropical and 13 temperate algae with a broad range of phenolic levels to deter feeding by herbivorous fishes on Guam. Extracts of the high-phenolic (〉2% d.w.) temperate brown algae consistently deterred feeding by herbivorous fishes, whereas extracts from low phenolic (〈2% d.w.) temperate and 6 of 8 low-phenolic tropical brown algae did not. Thus, phenolic compounds could be effective feeding deterrents towards herbivorous fishes on Guam, but for unknown reasons they are not used by Guamanian brown algae.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00318266
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