Chemical Biology of the Tropics (eBook)

Preface 6
Contents 10
Biodiversity 12
1 Introduction 12
2 Measuring Biodiversity 13
3 Where Are They? A Short List of the World´s Biodiversity Hotspots 14
3.1 Madagascar 15
3.2 Eastern Himalayas 15
3.3 Malay Archipelago 15
3.3.1 Peninsular Malaysia 16
3.3.2 Northern Borneo 16
3.3.3 Philippines 16
3.3.4 New Caledonia 17
3.4 South America 17
3.4.1 Atlantic Coast of Brazil 18
3.4.2 Western Ecuador 18
3.4.3 Colombian Chocó 18
3.4.4 Neotropical Andes 18
4 How Did the Biodiversity Hotspots Get So Hot? 19
5 The Future of Biodiversity 23
References 24
Chemical Ecology: Definition and Famous Examples 26
1 Introduction 26
2 Famous Examples 28
2.1 Insects 28
2.2 Plants 30
2.2.1 Communication in Plants 30
2.2.2 Plants and Microbes 30
2.2.3 Allelopathy: Negative Plant Talk 31
2.2.4 A Different Plant Story: The Plant as Paul Revere 31
2.2.5 Plant Neurobiology: A Contradiction in Terms or a Vision of the Future? 32
2.3 Vertebrates 33
2.4 Microbes 33
3 The Machines that Make Chemical Ecology Possible 34
References 36
Chemical Defenses of Insects: A Rich Resource for Chemical Biology in the Tropics 38
1 Introduction 38
2 Background 40
3 Chemical Weapons in Insects: History and Examples 41
3.1 Ethnoentomology 41
3.2 Venoms 42
3.2.1 Studying Venoms 43
3.3 Sprays and Secretions 46
3.4 Significance of Tropical Species for Chemical Biology Exploration 50
3.4.1 Defensive Chemical Ecology of Walkingstick Insects (Order Phasmatodea) 50
4 Early Work on Phasmid Defensive Secretions 51
5 Continuing the Tradition of Discovery Using New Technologies 54
6 Biosynthesis: New Discoveries for Pathway Elucidation 58
7 The Future of Insect Chemistry: From Biosynthesis to Drugs 59
8 Insects as a Source of Drugs 59
8.1 Toxins 59
8.2 Antibiotics 60
9 Biosynthesis: Toward New Methods of Chemical Production 62
10 Suggested Reading and Viewing 62
References 63
Defensive Behaviors in Leaf Beetles: From the Unusual to the Weird 69
1 Introduction 69
2 Sociality 70
3 Maternal Care 70
4 Defensive Constructions 72
5 Fececology 72
6 Defensive Chemicals 73
7 Tritrophic Interactions 73
8 Arrow Poison Beetles 75
9 Conclusions 76
References 77
Microbes: A New Frontier in Tropical Chemical Biology 80
1 Introduction 80
2 Role of Microbes in Tropical Ecosystems 82
2.1 Decomposition 83
2.2 Nutrient Uptake 84
3 Biogeochemistry 87
3.1 Soil Formation 87
3.2 Atmospheric Contribution of Soil Microbes 88
4 Cell-to-Cell Communication or ``Microbial Chemical Ecology´´ 90
5 Conclusions 92
References 93
Out on a Limb: True Confessions of a Bug Detective 96
1 Introduction 96
2 The Pioneer Spirit: Tools, Methods, Sweat, and Toil 97
2.1 Herbivores Rule: Specialists, Generalists, and an Apothecary in the Sky 100
3 Biodiversity Challenges in the Canopy 104
References 105
So, You Want to Do Research in the Rainforest? 106
1 Introduction 106
2 Practical Considerations in Tropical Chemical Biology: Field Work 107
3 Legal and Ethical Considerations in Tropical Chemical Biology 111
4 Convention on Biodiversity 112
5 Socioeconomic Threats in TNR 113
6 PASI Discussions on Legal and Ethical Issues 115
7 Conclusion 117
References 119
Index 121