Chemical Ecology of Marine Macrophytes. Dr. Craig Aumack investigates the biochemical adaptations of macro- and microalgae to their environments as well as their natural products’ influences on overall community structure. Many organisms, particularly sessile organisms like macrophytes, elaborate an array of chemical compounds to influence their environmental surroundings. Students working with Dr. Aumack have conducted a broad array of research projects including studies on allelopathic metabolites and their influence on diatom community composition in landfast Arctic sea ice and pheromones produced to attract reproductive spores in temperate to tropical macroalgae off the coast of Georgia.

Research Plan of REU participant: Students will have the opportunity to develop projects that assess the ecological and evolutionary functions of biologically produced secondary metabolites in marine macrophytes growing off the Georgia coast. Potential areas of research include (1) the elaboration of anti-grazing compounds to discourage predation and their abundance/effectiveness under different abiotic conditions, (2) production of anti-fouling compounds to deter colonization by epiflora/fauna and how this process is influenced by physiological stress on the host, and (3) production of pheromones used to attract spores/gametes for reproduction and the environmental cues which trigger their production. Regardless of the research area, students will participate in the collection of material, modern chemical extraction procedures to isolate and purify any secondary metabolites associated with that material, and conducting experiments to test the effectiveness of those extracts. For any project, particular emphasis will be placed on environmental factors and how local climatic shifts can potentially manipulate secondary metabolite production and/or the effectiveness of those metabolites.