Studies of biotic interactions of algae that involve chemical defenses or signals are currently vibrant, active components of both marine ecological and phycological research. This field is rapidly growing, not only by delving deeper into relatively well-known aspects such as secondary metabolite defenses of tropical and temperate macroalgae to herbivores but also by broadening such work into new habitats and by expanding the field to include many other aspects of the chemical interactions of algae with other organisms or with their environments. This book has attempted to span the breadth of algal chemical ecology from the perspective of basic ecology. To keep it of manageable length, its scope is restricted primarily to ecological aspects of the field and in doing so, it is unfortunate that a great deal of excellent work in applied areas of algal chemical ecology could not be included. Likewise, algal natural products chemistry is not emphasized in most chapters but the book begins with an introduction to the chemistry of algal defenses that is intended as a primer on natural products chemistry for algal ecologists. In addition, although intended to be broad, it could not be so comprehensively and consequently each author was asked to highlight new areas of research and simply refer a reader to previously published reviews where appropriate.

The Chemistry of Algal Secondary Metabolism

Macroalgal Chemical Defenses and Their Roles in Structuring Tropical Marine Communities
Macroalgal Chemical Defenses and Their Roles in Structuring Temperate Marine Communities
Macroalgal Chemical Defenses in Polar Marine Communities
Macroalgal and Cyanobacterial Chemical Defenses in Freshwater Communities
New Perspectives for Addressing Patterns of Secondary Metabolites in Marine Macroalgae
Macroalgal Models in Testing and Extending Defense Theories
Ecological and Physiological Roles of Dimethylsulfoniopropionate and its Products in Marine Macroalgae
Influence of Algal Secondary Metabolites on Plankton Community Structure
Herbivore Offense in the Sea: The Detoxifi cation and Transport of Secondary Metabolites
Secondary Metabolite Defenses Against Pathogens and Biofoulers
Oxidative Burst and Related Responses in Biotic Interactions of Algae
Defense Strategies of Algae and Cyanobacteria Against Solar Ultraviolet Radiation
Algal Sensory Chemical Ecology.