MS- Untargeted Metabolomics for Octocorals - ECUADOR

This study explores octocorals in Ecuador’s Marine Protected Area El Pelado as part of a marine biodiscovery project. Using untargeted metabolomics, researchers successfully classified 12 species across five genera, distinguishing closely related species, particularly within <i>Muricea</i>. Key secondary metabolites, including terpenes, were identified. The findings confirm high octocoral diversity in the Tropical Eastern Pacific and underscore the value of metabolomics for species classification and marine biodiversity research.