Ectocarpene

Ectocarpene is a sexual attractant, or pheromone, found with several species of brown algae (Phaeophyceae). The substance has a fruity scent and can be sensed by humans when millions of algae gametes swarm the seawater and the females start emitting the substance to attract the male gametes.

Ectocarpene was the first isolated algal pheromone. It was isolated from algae Ectocarpus (ordo Ectocarpales) by Müller and col. in 1971.