What causes the difference in chemical output valuable to researchers between hard and soft corals?
Answer
Difference in structural defense mechanisms
The primary factor differentiating the chemical output of hard corals (Scleractinia) and soft corals (Alcyonacea) relates directly to their structural rigidity. Hard corals possess a rigid external skeleton, which serves as a substantial physical defense. In contrast, soft corals lack this heavy limestone defense, necessitating a greater investment in potent, flexible biochemical defense systems, including a diverse cocktail of natural products used for defense, camouflage, and communication. This relative lack of heavy physical defense in soft corals leads to a richer and more valuable array of secreted bioactive molecules for pharmaceutical investigation.
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