Zooxanthellae: Difference between revisions
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=Picture Sources= | |||
http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9840 | |||
http://www.coralreefecosystems.org/researchimages/coralbleaching/bleaching1.jpg | |||
http://ocean.si.edu/sites/default/files/imagecache/750xX/photos/4.01_R01_G03_1_0.jpg | |||
http://www2.fiu.edu/~goldberg/coralreefs/SymbiosisReproduction_files/image008.jpg | |||
http://ningalooatlas.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/zooxanthellae.jpg |
Revision as of 12:44, 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)
- Nudibranchs (Sea Slugs)
- Under-represented in the water column
- live in the tissues of other organisms
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