Chemical studies of Caribbean sacoglossans: Dietary relationships with green algae and ecological implications

Eight sacoglossan species associated with green algae and collected along Caribbean coasts have been chemically investigated, together with their prey. The main secondary metabolites have been identified either by TLC comparison with standard compounds, or by H-1 NMR analysis, defining dietary relationships. In addition, two new compounds, ascobullin-A and ascobullin-B, have been found in the sacoglossan Ascobulla ulla and characterized by spectroscopic methods. Finally, the results obtained, together with those already reported fur Caribbean sacoglossans. are summarized in a chemoecological scenario, which could be compared with that previously proposed for Mediterranean species.