Laboratory experiments examining inducible defense show variable responses of temperate brown and red macroalgae

Macroalgae can defend themselves against generalist and specialist herbivores via morphological and/or chemical traits. Herein we examined the defensive responses (via relative palatability) of two brown (Lessonia nigrescens, Glossophora kunthii) and two red algae (Grateloupia doryphora, Chondracanthus chamissoi) from the northern-central coast of Chile against selected generalist meso-herbivores. Two laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate whether (i) algae can respond generally to grazing pressure of meso-herbivores (amphipods, isopods and juvenile sea urchins) and whether (ii) these algal responses were inducible. In order to examine palatability and thus effectiveness of responses, feeding assays were run after each experiment using fresh algal pieces and artificial agar-based food. Lessonia nigrescens responded to amphipods but not to sea urchins, and G. kunthii showed inducible response against one species of amphipods. Grateloupia doryphora did not respond against any of the tested grazers, whereas C. chamissoi responded against one species of amphipods and the tested isopod. Our results indicate variable responses of macroalgae against selected generalist meso-herbivores and evidence of an inducible defense in the brown alga G. kunthii.

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Main Authors: ROTHÄUSLER,EVA, MACAYA,ERASMO C, MOLIS,MARKUS, WAHL,MARTIN, THIEL,MARTIN
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Sociedad de Biología de Chile 2005
Online Access:http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0716-078X2005000400001
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spelling oai:scielo:S0716-078X20050004000012006-03-16Laboratory experiments examining inducible defense show variable responses of temperate brown and red macroalgaeROTHÄUSLER,EVAMACAYA,ERASMO CMOLIS,MARKUSWAHL,MARTINTHIEL,MARTIN palatability defense meso-herbivores macroalgae Macroalgae can defend themselves against generalist and specialist herbivores via morphological and/or chemical traits. Herein we examined the defensive responses (via relative palatability) of two brown (Lessonia nigrescens, Glossophora kunthii) and two red algae (Grateloupia doryphora, Chondracanthus chamissoi) from the northern-central coast of Chile against selected generalist meso-herbivores. Two laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate whether (i) algae can respond generally to grazing pressure of meso-herbivores (amphipods, isopods and juvenile sea urchins) and whether (ii) these algal responses were inducible. In order to examine palatability and thus effectiveness of responses, feeding assays were run after each experiment using fresh algal pieces and artificial agar-based food. Lessonia nigrescens responded to amphipods but not to sea urchins, and G. kunthii showed inducible response against one species of amphipods. Grateloupia doryphora did not respond against any of the tested grazers, whereas C. chamissoi responded against one species of amphipods and the tested isopod. Our results indicate variable responses of macroalgae against selected generalist meso-herbivores and evidence of an inducible defense in the brown alga G. kunthii.info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessSociedad de Biología de ChileRevista chilena de historia natural v.78 n.4 20052005-12-01text/htmlhttp://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0716-078X2005000400001en10.4067/S0716-078X2005000400001
institution SCIELO
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country Chile
countrycode CL
component Revista
access En linea
databasecode rev-scielo-cl
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region America del Sur
libraryname SciELO
language English
format Digital
author ROTHÄUSLER,EVA
MACAYA,ERASMO C
MOLIS,MARKUS
WAHL,MARTIN
THIEL,MARTIN
spellingShingle ROTHÄUSLER,EVA
MACAYA,ERASMO C
MOLIS,MARKUS
WAHL,MARTIN
THIEL,MARTIN
Laboratory experiments examining inducible defense show variable responses of temperate brown and red macroalgae
author_facet ROTHÄUSLER,EVA
MACAYA,ERASMO C
MOLIS,MARKUS
WAHL,MARTIN
THIEL,MARTIN
author_sort ROTHÄUSLER,EVA
title Laboratory experiments examining inducible defense show variable responses of temperate brown and red macroalgae
title_short Laboratory experiments examining inducible defense show variable responses of temperate brown and red macroalgae
title_full Laboratory experiments examining inducible defense show variable responses of temperate brown and red macroalgae
title_fullStr Laboratory experiments examining inducible defense show variable responses of temperate brown and red macroalgae
title_full_unstemmed Laboratory experiments examining inducible defense show variable responses of temperate brown and red macroalgae
title_sort laboratory experiments examining inducible defense show variable responses of temperate brown and red macroalgae
description Macroalgae can defend themselves against generalist and specialist herbivores via morphological and/or chemical traits. Herein we examined the defensive responses (via relative palatability) of two brown (Lessonia nigrescens, Glossophora kunthii) and two red algae (Grateloupia doryphora, Chondracanthus chamissoi) from the northern-central coast of Chile against selected generalist meso-herbivores. Two laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate whether (i) algae can respond generally to grazing pressure of meso-herbivores (amphipods, isopods and juvenile sea urchins) and whether (ii) these algal responses were inducible. In order to examine palatability and thus effectiveness of responses, feeding assays were run after each experiment using fresh algal pieces and artificial agar-based food. Lessonia nigrescens responded to amphipods but not to sea urchins, and G. kunthii showed inducible response against one species of amphipods. Grateloupia doryphora did not respond against any of the tested grazers, whereas C. chamissoi responded against one species of amphipods and the tested isopod. Our results indicate variable responses of macroalgae against selected generalist meso-herbivores and evidence of an inducible defense in the brown alga G. kunthii.
publisher Sociedad de Biología de Chile
publishDate 2005
url http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0716-078X2005000400001
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