Chemical Ecology: The Ecological Impacts Of Mar... -

Chemical Ecology: The Ecological Impacts of Marine Natural Products

: Generalist consumers use primary metabolites (e.g., amino acids, sugars) to find food, while specialists may target unique secondary metabolites produced only by their specific host. For example, tube-nosed seabirds use dimethyl sulfide (DMS), released when zooplankton graze on phytoplankton, to locate productive foraging areas from distances up to 10 km. Chemical ecology: the ecological impacts of mar...

: In the Gulf of Maine, climate-driven shifts from kelp forests to turf algae have altered the reef's chemical environment, releasing bioactive molecules that inhibit young kelp from regrowing. This chemical "legacy" may lock ecosystems into degraded states even if temperatures stabilize. 4. Recommended Resources Chemical Ecology: The Ecological Impacts of Marine Natural

Climate change is disrupting these "silent signals," with profound consequences for marine resilience. This chemical "legacy" may lock ecosystems into degraded

Marine chemical ecology is the study of chemically mediated interactions among ocean organisms, ranging from bacteria and phytoplankton to benthic invertebrates and fish. Often described as the "language of life" in the sea, these chemical signals—or infochemicals—structure populations and ecosystems by regulating critical behaviors and life processes.