Chemical ecology of the marine plankton

Poulson, Kelsey L.; Sieg, R. Drew; Kubanek, Julia

doi:10.1039/b806214p

Cited by 38 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 126 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We did not characterize the chemical composition of the culture filtrates used in these experiments; however, they likely contain a mixture of carbohydrates, proteins, and amino acids (Hellebust 1965;Biddanda and Benner 1997;Poulson et al 2009). The stability of these exuded chemicals varies dependent on environmental conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Avoidance and attraction: Chemical cues influence predator‐prey interactions of planktonic protists

Harvey

Jeong

Menden‐Deuer

2013

Limnology & Oceanography

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We measured how predator-and prey-derived chemical cues affect swimming behaviors and encounter rates of two common phytoplankton species (Amphidinum carterae, Heterosigma akashiwo) and two heterotrophic dinoflagellate predators (Stoeckeria algicida, Gyrodiniellum shiwhaense). Using video and image analysis, the microscopic three-dimensional movement behaviors and macroscopic population distributions of the species were quantified in response to chemical cues derived from their respective predator or prey species. S. algicida preferentially feeds on H. akashiwo but displayed significant increases in swimming speed and turning rate when exposed to filtrate from either prey species. Prey cue-induced changes in predator swimming behavior resulted in an average 11% increase in encounter rate. S. algicida that respond to prey filtrate would reach their daily prey quota at a 25% lower ambient prey concentration. In contrast, G. shiwhaense, which rarely feeds and does not grow on H. akashiwo, exhibited no shifts in behavior in response to algal filtrate. Predator-derived cues from S. algicida elicited significant increases in upward motility in H. akashiwo, resulting in a shift in the prey population abundance away from the predator-derived chemical cue. These algal fleeing behaviors reduced estimated encounter rates by 4%, compared to non-fleeing behaviors. Our results provide quantitative evidence for the importance of chemical cues in modulating feeding interactions and emphasize the ramifications of individual behaviors, and modulation thereof, to population-level outcomes, including population distributions, and predation pressure.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Avoidance and attraction: Chemical cues influence predator‐prey interactions of planktonic protists

Harvey

Jeong

Menden‐Deuer

2013

Limnology & Oceanography

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In planktonic systems, the use of chemical compounds to kill or slow the growth of competitors, a process known as allelopathy, may confer a selective advantage to phytoplankton that are weak exploitation competitors (Adolf et al 2006, Tillmann et al 2008, Poulson et al 2009). Many groups of phytoplankton, including dinoflagellates (Kubanek et al 2005, Adolf et al 2006, Tillmann & Hansen 2009), haptophytes (Uronen et al 2007), raphidophytes (Yamasaki et al 2009), diatoms (Hansen & Eilertsen 2007, Ribalet et al 2007, and cyanobacteria (Suikkanen et al 2006) are allelopathic towards co-occurring species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Allelopathic compounds of a red tide dinoflagellate have species-specific and context-dependent impacts on phytoplankton

Poulson

Sieg

Prince³

et al. 2010

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The use of chemical compounds to suppress the growth of competitors is a competitive strategy known as allelopathy that can be readily observed with many phytoplankton species in laboratory studies. However, it is unclear how these allelopathic interactions are altered when the complexity of the system is increased to more closely mimic natural conditions. In the present study, we conducted laboratory experiments to decipher how the identity, abundance, and growth stage of competitors affect the outcome of allelopathic interactions with the red tide dinoflagellate Karenia brevis. Multiple chemical compounds produced by K. brevis were found to inhibit the growth of 4 phytoplankton competitors, although these competitors were susceptible to different combinations of compounds. We found that physiological state and cell concentration of competitors were important determinants of allelopathy, with early-stage (lag phase) cells more vulnerable to allelopathic effects than later growth stages for the diatom Skeletonema grethae. Despite being allelopathic to multiple competitors in the laboratory, in a microcosm experiment using plankton field assemblages, extracellular extracts of 2 strains of K. brevis had no effects on some taxa although they stimulated the growth of some diatoms. This suggests that in a species-rich ecological community under oligotrophic conditions, the relative importance of K. brevis allelopathy may not be as high as most laboratory studies predict.

show abstract

“…Little is yet known about intraspecific facilitation in populations of planktonic algae. Among flagellated algae many are known to produce extracellular toxins [20,27,[39][40][41], and, depending on the environmental conditions, these toxins might serve as a direct benefit at the cell level or as an exploitable public good for the whole population [42].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraspecific facilitation by allelochemical mediated grazing protection within a toxigenic dinoflagellate population

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dinoflagellates are a major cause of harmful algal blooms (HABs), with consequences for coastal marine ecosystem functioning and services. Alexandrium fundyense (previously Alexandrium tamarense) is one of the most abundant and widespread toxigenic species in the temperate Northern and Southern Hemisphere and produces paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins as well as lytic allelochemical substances. These bioactive compounds may support the success of A. fundyense and its ability to form blooms. Here we investigate the impact of grazing on monoclonal and mixed set-ups of highly (Alex2) and moderately (Alex4) allelochemically active A. fundyense strains and a non-allelochemically active conspecific (Alex5) by the heterotrophic dinoflagellate Polykrikos kofoidii. While Alex4 and particularly Alex5 were strongly grazed by P. kofoidii when offered alone, both strains grew well in the mixed assemblages (Alex4 þ Alex5 and Alex2 þ Alex5). Hence, the allelochemical active strains facilitated growth of the non-active strain by protecting the population as a whole against grazing. Based on our results, we argue that facilitation among clonal lineages within a species may partly explain the high genotypic and phenotypic diversity of Alexandrium populations. Populations of Alexandrium may comprise multiple cooperative traits that act in concert with intraspecific facilitation, and hence promote the success of this notorious HAB species.

show abstract

Chemical ecology of the marine plankton

Cited by 38 publications

References 126 publications

Avoidance and attraction: Chemical cues influence predator‐prey interactions of planktonic protists

Avoidance and attraction: Chemical cues influence predator‐prey interactions of planktonic protists

Allelopathic compounds of a red tide dinoflagellate have species-specific and context-dependent impacts on phytoplankton

Intraspecific facilitation by allelochemical mediated grazing protection within a toxigenic dinoflagellate population

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About