Home Defenses of polar macroalgae against herbivores and biofoulers
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Defenses of polar macroalgae against herbivores and biofoulers

  • Charles D. Amsler , Katrin Iken , James B. McClintock and Bill J. Baker
Published/Copyright: December 1, 2009
Botanica Marina
From the journal Volume 52 Issue 6

Abstract

Chemical defenses against herbivores are common in macroalgae from Antarctica, particularly in those species that typically dominate benthic communities. Conversely, although little studied, chemical defenses do not appear to be as important in the ecological relationships of Arctic macroalgae. Mesoherbivory may be particularly heavy in Antarctic macroalgal communities, but Antarctic macroalgae produce chemical defenses against both mesoherbivores and macroherbivores. Antarctic macroalgae have been useful in testing and extending chemical defense theories. While physical defenses may also be important in some Antarctic macroalgal-herbivore relationships, particularly with respect to mesoherbivores, physical defenses do not appear to have wide-spread importance against macroherbivores. In Arctic macroalgae, physical defenses may be of more overall importance in reducing mesoherbivory. Antarctic macroalgae also produce compounds with the potential to control biofouling by sympatric microalgae.


Corresponding author

Received: 2008-12-2
Accepted: 2009-3-31
Published Online: 2009-12-01
Published in Print: 2009-12-01

©2009 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Guest introduction
  2. Biology of polar benthic algae
  3. Environment, biogeography and biodiversity
  4. The abiotic environment of polar marine benthic algae
  5. Biodiversity, biogeography and zonation of marine benthic micro- and macroalgae in the Arctic and Antarctic
  6. Notes on the systematics and biogeographical relationships of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic Rhodophyta with descriptions of four new genera and five new species
  7. Chemical ecology
  8. Defenses of polar macroalgae against herbivores and biofoulers
  9. Field studies on deterrent properties of phlorotannins in Antarctic brown algae
  10. Primary production and ecophysiology
  11. Benthic microalgal production in the Arctic: applied methods and status of the current database
  12. Microphytobenthic biomass along gradients of physical conditions in Arctic Kongsfjorden, Svalbard
  13. Phenology and seasonal physiological performance of polar seaweeds
  14. Light and temperature demands of marine benthic microalgae and seaweeds in polar regions
  15. Freezing tolerance and photosynthetic performance of polar seaweeds at low temperatures
  16. Polar benthic algae in a changing world
  17. Impact of oceanic warming on the distribution of seaweeds in polar and cold-temperate waters
  18. Physiological responses of polar benthic algae to ultraviolet radiation
  19. Drivers of colonization and succession in polar benthic macro- and microalgal communities
  20. Conclusion and outlook
  21. Future perspectives on the investigation of polar benthic algae
  22. Meetings
  23. Meetings
  24. Reviewer acknowledgement Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  25. Reviewer acknowledgement Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  26. Contents index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  27. Contents index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  28. Author index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  29. Author index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  30. Genus/Species index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
  31. Genus/Species index Bot. Mar. volume 52 (2009)
Downloaded on 20.9.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/BOT.2009.070/html
Scroll to top button