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Potential Application of Metabolomics on the Impacts of Underwater Noise on Marine Life19Marine Research of the National Academy of Marine ResearchDOI: 10.29677/MR.202406_4(1).0002 The vast oceans, encompassing most of Earth's surface, are vital for their rich biodiversity and dynamic ecological systems, and are influenced by a complex interplay of chemical and environmental factors (Cragg & Newman, 2009; Carr et al., 2003). However, these marine ecosystems face growing challenges due to human activities, leading to global warming and ocean acidification (Halpern et al., 2019; Hoegh-Guldberg & Bruno, 2010; Hughes et al., 2003). Addressing these challenges requires an in-depth understanding of marine life's physiological adaptations and responses. In this context, metabolomics has become a key tool, offering critical insights into the biochemistry of marine organisms in the face of these environmental changes. Metabolomics, the comprehensive analysis of metabolites within an organism, provides a snapshot of the physiological state under various environmental conditions (Bundy et al., 2008; Kim et al., 2011). Unlike targeted studies focusing on specific metabolic pathways, metabolomics offers an unbiased perspective,capturing a holistic view of the organism's response to its environment (Viant, 2019; Ebada et al., 2008). This approach is precious in marine ecosystems, where organisms are continually exposed to both intrinsic ecologicalvariables and extrinsic anthropogenic stressors. Metabolomics in marine biology has provided valuable insights into the adaptive responses of marine life to environmental stressors. By analyzing metabolic fingerprints and footprints, this approach uncovers shifts induced by genetic, environmental, or biological influences, as detailed in studies by Dunn & Ellis (2005), Goulitquer et al. (2012), and Kim et al. (2011). This analysis is crucial for identifying biomarkers relevant to toxicity, disease, or biologically active new molecules, contributing significantly to ecological research and conservation strategies. Metabolomics has significantly advanced our comprehension of chemical interactions within marine ecosystems, mainly marine chemical ecology. This technique has been instrumental in deciphering the complex roles of chemical compounds in marine organism interactions, such as in defense against herbivores and allelopathy (Blunt et al., 2016, 2017, 2018; Carroll et al., 2019, 2020). The research in this field hasdemonstrated the considerable growth and contributions of metabolomics to our understanding of marine ecological dynamics (Gerwick & Moore, 2012; Molinski et al., 2008; Stuart et al., 2020). Despite the successes, implementing metabolomics in marine research faces practical challenges, including collecting significant sample amounts from often remote and inaccessible locations and the broad chemical diversity of marine metabolites (Blunt et al., 2018). Moreover, high salt and lipid content in extracts from sessileorganisms like sponges and corals requires specialized sample preparation to meet analytical requirements for metabolomic analysis. The very depth of metabolomics also poses challenges. The vast amount of data generated requiresadvanced bioinformatics tools for analysis and interpretation (Nicholson & Lindon, 2008). Moreover, myriad factors aside from noise can influence metabolite profiles, such as diet, age, and reproductive state. Parsing out the specific noise impacts from these other variables requires careful experimental design and robust statistical analysis. Additionally, establishing standardized sample collection, preparation, and analysis methods is vital to ensure study consistency and reproducibility.