Interactive effects of inducible defense and resource availability on phlorotannins in the North Atlantic brown alga Fucus vesiculosus

Abstract

Research seeking to explain the ecological role of polyphenolics (phlorotannins) in plants and brown algae has largely focused on 2 alternative concepts, the carbonhutrient (Cm) balance and the inducible defense models. We tested the hierarchy of effects of both models on phlorotannin production in the brown alga Fucus veslculosus (Fucales) by simultaneously manipulating the N environment and simulating herbivory for 2 oceanic (high and low intertidal) and estuarine populations. We measured phlorotannin levels in algae under control, grazed, N-enriched, and grazed + N-enriched treatments with time (0 to 14 d ) throughout the year to determine onset and duration of the response.