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Article: Biochemical warfare on coral reefs: in a coevolutionary struggle, invertebrate adversaries develop weapons and counterweapons.(Report)
- Article from:
- Oceanus
- Article date:
- December 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Just beneath the tranquil, clear waters of the tropical Caribbean, unseen by all but a few keen-eyed divers, two foes have engaged in a life-and-death struggle every day for thousands of millennia. Their limestone battlefield is peppered with limitless varieties of soft coral that look like easy targets for any hungry passerby. However, looks can be deceiving. These outwardly innocuous corals, commonly known as gorgonians, have a few tricks up their soft sleeves. They have evolved a powerful arsenal of chemical toxins that leave all who dare to consume them with a mouthful of distasteful compounds and a lesson they won't soon forget.
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