Biogenic volatile organic compounds from marine benthic organisms: a review.

Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOCs) play crucial roles in terrestrial environments, acting as defense compounds against environmental stresses and as chemical cues in species interactions. These roles were mainly highlighted on terrestrial plants whereas marine BVOCs are still understudied except dimethyl sufide (DMS) or isoprene. However, recent research highlights that marine organisms, particularly phytoplankton, and to a lesser extent benthic organisms such as macroalgae, seagrasses, and corals, also produce and emit a larger panel of BVOCs. In this review, we compiled and analyzed articles focusing on BVOCs production and emission by benthic photosynthetic organisms. Our review synthesizes current knowledge on the BVOCs produced or emitted by these species, categorized by compounds classes, geographic location and sampling methods. This synthesis provides a preliminary overview of the chemical diversity among benthic organisms, indicating rich and varied BVOCs profiles that warrants further investigation. Furthermore, we explore the potential physiological and ecological roles of BVOCs in benthic ecosystems, discussing their implications for environmental stress responses and interspecies communication. This review underscores the need for more comprehensive studies to fully understand the ecological significance and chemical complexity of BVOCs in benthic environments.