Allelopathic agents from aquatic ecosystems: potential biopesticides models

Allelopathy is usually regarded as a terrestrial science and little attention has been paid to the allelochemicals involved in the interactions between aquatic autotrophs. Also, chemicals involved in the interaction between algae (macro or microscopic) and their environment are not often acknowledged as allelopathic. Allelopathy is a key factor for explaining microalgae assemblages, community structure and the dynamics of the populations within the ecosystem. Herein we present an overview of what is known in this field, describing the chemicals yet identified and which kind of interactions are they involved in.