Transfer of Toxic Algal Substances in Marine Food Chains

Abstract

Alcoholic and ether extracts of obligate herbivores, omnivores, and detritus feeders common on Caulerpa or in its communities were found, via comparative, and sometimes quantitative, thin-layer chromatography, to contain varying amounts of caulerpicin, caulerpin, palmitic acid, and ß-sitosterol or to lack them. Cerithium and soft corals, which may be either omnivores or carnivores, on occasion contain caulerpicin. The crustacean detritus feeders did not seem to preserve either caulerpicin or caulerpin. It seems well demonstrated that caulerpicin and caulerpin, which, as produced by Caulerpa, are physiologically active and toxic to rats and mice, respectively, are transferred along the food chains and concentrated in the process at least in some herbivores.