Data from the Amsler/Baker/McClintock chemical ecology project at Palmer Station

This data set consists of feeding bioassay data that determines the
palatability of macroalgal thalli and invertebrate tissues to
sympatric antarctic predators. Predators include several species of
sea stars, amphipods, fish, and sea anemones. Unpalatable prey species
are subjected to chemical extractions and the crude extracts added to
artificial foods for bioassays to determine if unpalatability is
caused by chemical defenses.

In most macroalgal and some invertebrate species, the nutritional
quality of the prey items to predators has also been determined. For
most macroalgal species, the relative toughness of the thalli has been
determined.

Chemical fractionation of crude extracts has been performed on a
number of the macroalgal and invertebrate species that appear to be
chemically defended. Purification and identification of the specific
secondary metabolites has been undertaken and continues. A number of
specific, novel secondary metabolites have been identified.