Chemical adaptive capacity of brown seaweeds

Acclimation and adaptation to environmental changes largely determines the success of species and ecosystems. Seaweeds form the foundation of many marine systems, and their response to environmental pressures may indicate the overall adaptive capacity of an ecosystem. Understanding these responses is therefore crucial in determining the extent to which environments· impact biota. This thesis investigated how environmental pressures shape physiological responses and production of protective chemicals in dominant brown seaweeds. To do so, I quantified impacts of abiotic (light, temperature, salinity) and biotic interactions (inter- and intra-specific competition, herbivory) through measurements of the widely-produce seaweed metabolites and physiological condition.