Zooxanthellae: Difference between revisions
From coraldigest
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** live in the tissues of other organisms | ** live in the tissues of other organisms | ||
*** Cnidarians (Coral Polyps, Jellyfish) | *** Cnidarians (Coral Polyps, Jellyfish) | ||
[[File:4._image008.jpg|right|Visible Zooxanthellae within a coral polyp]] | [[File:4._image008.jpg|frameless|border|right|Visible Zooxanthellae within a coral polyp]] | ||
*** Nudibranchs (Sea Slugs) | *** Nudibranchs (Sea Slugs) | ||
[[File:1._C112516dd.jpg|right|Symbiotic Zooxanthellae inhabiting a sea slug]] | [[File:1._C112516dd.jpg|frameless|border|right|Symbiotic Zooxanthellae inhabiting a sea slug]] | ||
** Under-represented in the water column | ** Under-represented in the water column | ||
Revision as of 13:18, 17 April 2013
Zooxanthellae
Physiology
- Physical characteristic
- single-celled mixotrophic microorganisms
- share the same spherical form that enables them to live within coral
- Genetic characteristic
- part of a group of dinoflagellates
- Flagellated
- Thecal Plates
- part of a group of dinoflagellates
- Zooxanthellae is the name given to a wide array of different algae of the genus Symbiodinium
- Behavior
- live in the tissues of other organisms
- Cnidarians (Coral Polyps, Jellyfish)
- live in the tissues of other organisms
- Nudibranchs (Sea Slugs)
- Under-represented in the water column
Mutualistic Relationship with Coral Reefs
- Photosynthesis
- Corals provide a safe environment and compounds needed for photosynthesis
- Zooxanthellae provide food (nutrients) for the coral to use in order to secrete calcium carbonate skeleton
- Highly efficient exchange of nutrients
- Relationship has lasted for more than 200 million years
- Sugar/Carbohydrate Export
- Amino Acid Export
Environmental Impact & Coral Bleaching
- Bleaching occurs when environmental stress adversely affects the mutually beneficial relationship between the host organism and its zooxanthellae.
Sources
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/corals/coral02_zooxanthellae.html (accessed on 2/23/13)
http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/coral101/symbioticalgae/ (accessed on 2/23/13)
http://www.biolbull.org/content/137/3/506.short
http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/71/m071p065.pdf
http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/180/m180p139.pdf
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF00348077?LI=true
Picture Sources
1. http://www.seaslugforum.net/