Compounds from Deep-Sea Bubblegum Corals, Paragorgia arborea, Elicit Anti-Predation Behavior in Fish

ABSTRACT

Bubble-gum corals (Paragorgia spp.) appear to lack predators common to many other deep-sea corals. The aim of this study was to determine whether compounds from red and white colored bubble-gum coral Paragorgia arborea (Linnaeus, 1758) from different geographical locations inhibit predation or elicit different behavioral responses. We extracted secondary metabolites from red and white colonies of P. arborea, incorporating different concentrations of the compounds into feeding pellets, and offered these to pinfish Lagodon rhomboides (Linnaeus, 1766) in behavioral feeding assays. Red-colored P. arborea produced a lipophilic compound which at high concentrations stimulated defensive responses, however, lipophilic compounds from white coral colonies did not produce significant defensive behavioral responses by fish. Water-soluble and extracted sclerites elicited no behavioral effects from L. rhomboides.