Abstract

Coral reefs have undergone profound ecological changes over recent decades. Areas formerly covered by scleractinian coral species are now often overgrown by macroalgae. In Martinique (West Indies), this phenomenon has lead to the colonisation of numerous coral reefs by algae, amongst which Sargassum is one of the most prominent. This study focuses on potential defence molecules produced by Sargassum polyceratium. The hexane dipping method was employed to extract surface molecules on fresh material, and their bioactivities were assessed against bacteria (marine and estuarine), and marine tropical invertebrates [an annelid (Pseudonereis sp.), a bivalve (Codakia orbicularis) and a sea urchin (Diadema antillarum)]. Extracts were active against all microorganisms tested (MIC=150 or 300 μg ml^-1), early stages of development in Pseudonereis sp. (MIC=100 μg ml^-1) and embryos of C. orbicularis and D. antillarum (MIC=5 μg ml^-1), suggesting the production of defence compounds by S. polyceratium.