Macroalgal-herbivore interactions, chemical defenses

Paul VJ, Hay ME, Duffy JE, Fenical W, Gustafson K (1987) Chemical defense in the seaweed Ochtodes secundiramea (Montague) Howe (Rhodophyta) effects of its monoterpenoid components upon diverse coral-reef herbivores. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 114 249-260 Paul VJ, Cruz-Rivera E, Thacker RW (2001) Chemical mediation of macroalgal-herbivore interactions ecological and evolutionary perspectives. In McClintock JB, Baker BJ (eds) Marine chemical ecology. CRC, pp 227-265... 

Macroalgal chemical defenses act as selective agents for the herbivore traits related to the interaction. Little is known about the effects of chemical defenses on herbivore population dynamics but the existing data suggest that bottom-up influences on herbivores may be important. 

Other physiological effects of defensive chemicals have not been observed or studied for plant-herbivore interactions. For example, studies of chemically defended sessile invertebrates have shown that some compounds have emetic properties against fish predators, and that fishes can learn quickly to avoid these chemicals after regurgitating ingested food.206,258 Macroalgal compounds could potentially act in similar ways, but such effects have never been documented. 

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