11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

9.248
Chemistry And Ecology Of A Coral Encrusting Marine Sponge, Terpios Spp., From
Guam
Ingeborg IPING PETTERSON* 1
1 Marine Lab, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam
Comparisons of past studies on an unidentified encrusting marine sponge, Terpios spp.,
from Guam reveal conflicting results as to its substrate preference. Terpios spp. has been
documented as growing on a diversity of substrates, and it is believed that it is able to
encrust live coral tissue through the use of cytotoxic chemicals produced by the sponge or
its associated bacteria.
We aim to gain insight on the substrate preference and growth of Terpios spp., as well as
characterize its chemistry in terms of interesting biologically active compounds.
Extractions were performed of Terpios spp. encrusting coral rubble, live Crustose
Coraline Algae (CCA), and live coral. The 1 cm region of Terpios spp. directly bordering
living CCA (attacking front) and the attacking front on live coral were also and extracted.
All samples were lyophilized prior to extraction, and were characterized using High
Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to determine any relative differences
among samples from different substrates, as well as to identify the presence of any
cytotoxic compounds. An as yet unidentified compound was found to be present in
extracts from the attacking front on live coral at concentrations at least ten fold of that in
other samples. This may be evidence of qualitative chemicals used by Terpios spp to
specifically target, compete with and overtake its living coral substrate. Also, inoculation
experiments using living and dead coral tissue showed that Terpios spp. more rapidly
attaches and spreads on living coral tissue than dead coral.
9.249
Feeding Preference, Growth Rate, And Secondary Chemical Substance Of The
Nudibranch, Jorunna Funebris, Associated With The Blue Sponge, Xestospongia sp.
Voranop VIYAKARN* 1 , Nalinee RASSAMETHUMMATHIKUL 1 , Udomsak
DARUMAS 1 , Suchana CHAVANICH 1
1 Marine Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
The feeding preference and growth rates of the nudibranch, Jorunna funebris, fed on the
blue sponge, Xestospongia sp. were conducted. In addition, the relationship between the
secondary chemical substances found in the nudibranch and its food source were
investigated. The results showed that Jorunna was a prey-specific nudibranch fed only
on Xestospongia sp. The growth rate experiments showed that the small size class (2 cm
in length) of Jorunna had the highest daily weight gained (8.8%) while the medium size
class (5 cm in length) had the highest daily length gained (3.6%). Moreover, the 12 and
24- hour feeding rate experiments showed that Jorunna fed both during the day and
night. The chemical analysis showed that there was a relationship between the secondary
chemical substance, renieramycin M, found in Jorunna and the chemical substance found
in its sponge food source. When Jorunna was starved and was not allowed to feed on
Xestospongia, the content of renieramycin M in the foot muscle of Jorunna decreased
significantly. Recently, Thai scientists also found that the renieramycins from Jorunna
can exhibit potent cytotoxic activity against cancer cells.
Poster Mini-Symposium 9: Chemical Ecology On Coral Reefs
9.250
Implications Of Inter-And Intra-Species Variation in Secondary Metabolite Chemistry
Of The Genus Pseudopterogorgia
Maia MUKHERJEE* 1 , Lyndon WEST 2 , Howard LASKER 3
1 Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 2 Pharmaceutical and
Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, Athens, GA, 3 Geology,
University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
We have generated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), high pressure liquid
chromatography (HPLC), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data which serves as "fingerprints"
to be applied as a complementary tool for identification of species within the genus
Pseudopterogorgia. While the presence and absence of compounds will be useful in
identification, the structural relationships among the compounds can delineate not only
chemical, but also evolutionary relationships. Secondary compounds vary among species and
the biosynthetic pathways producing the compounds are homologous traits which can be used
for phylogenetic inference. Indeed some of the most intricate accounts of microevolution have
been based on the evolution of secondary metabolites and chemical defense (Berenbaum 1990).
Efforts to generate chemical fingerprints of samples of the genus Pseudopterogorgia have lead
to the development of libraries that can be used for the rapid identification of Pseudopterogorgia
spp. collected from the northern Bahamas and the Florida Keys. Additionally we have evaluated
the variation in secondary metabolites amongst Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae collected from
different locations, different depths along the same reef tract and at different times of the year.
Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae is currently commercially harvested for the pharmacologically
active compounds the pseudopterosins, and information about chemical variation across
geographic, depth and seasonal gradients may prove useful for future management decisions
regarding their harvest.
9.251
Metabolic Response To Nutrient Enrichment in A Brazilian Coastal Benthic Community
Beatriz FLEURY* 1 , Elaine PETRONILHO 2 , Flávia COSTA 1 , Renata PEDERNEIRAS 1 ,
Angelo PINTO 2 , Friedrich HERMS 3 , Joel CREED 1
1 Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
2 Departamento de Química Orgânica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, 3 Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil
The effects of anthropogenic activities on marine coasts have become a worldwide concern.
One of the major stresses comes from the discharge of excessive nutrients from sewage into
coastal waters, which leads to eutrophication. At the moment, there is no report in the Brazilian
literature on the use of lipids from benthic organisms as markers for contamination of marine
environments by organic pollutants. Therefore, a manipulative field experiment was conducted
to investigate the impact of nutrient enrichment on the metabolisms of Palythoa caribaeorum
(Zoanthidea), Mussismilia hispida (Scleractinia) and Desmapsamma anchorata (Porifera) at
Ilha Grande Bay, Rio de Janeiro State. A randomized design comprised the fixation of fertilizer
around the colonies along the coast. After 1 month, the lipids of these organisms were extracted
with organic solvents, separately. The triacylglycerols were converted to fatty acids methyl
esters by saponification and esterification. The FAMEs were analyzed by HRGC/MS, and
showed predominance of palmitic, stearic, arachidic, arachidonic and EPA acids in P.
caribaeorum; the same fatty acids and also behenic acid were found in M. hispida, and mainly
5,9-hexacosadienoic acid in D. anchorata. Monohydroxylated sterols were also identified in all
organisms. The preliminary data on impact of the nutrient enrichment seem to show little
difference in the capacity of synthesis of these metabolites in Palythoa, Mussismilia and
Desmapsamma. However, future studies are important to confirm these results. These studies
may help the development of strategies for appropriate management of the water quality in this
environment.
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