Search

Gorgonian secondary metabolites are unable to suppress bacterial growth, and so bacteria are probably unable to act as selective agents in the evolution of the gorgonian secondary chemistry. A study of 39 species of Caribbean gorgonians from 14 genera, indicates that these invertebrates rarely produce potent antibiotics that are active against marine pathogens. Antibiotic activity is seen in only 15% of the tests, with 23% exhibiting no activity and 33% suppressing only one bacterial strain.

Results of a series of incubation experiments to ascertain the rate of release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by jellyfish Aurelia aurita revealed that this scyphozoan jellyfish is a major source of DOC. Since DOC quantities directly influence bacterial abundance, bacterial growth was ascertained to be simulated in the presence of A. aurita.