Distribution patterns and nutritional contributions of algal symbionts in the sea anemone Anthopleura xanthogrammica

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MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 453:79-94 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09602 Distribution patterns and nutritional contributions of algal symbionts in the sea anemone Anthopleura xanthogrammica Michael R. Levine*, Gisèle Muller-Parker Shannon Point Marine Center and Department of Biology, Western Washington University, Anacortes, Washington 98221, USA *Email: mrlevinevt@gmail.com ABSTRACT: The Pacific intertidal sea anemone Anthopleura xanthogrammica hosts 2 algal symbionts, zoochlorellae Elliptochloris marina and zooxanthellae Symbiodinium muscatinei, either alone or co-occurring. Previous studies have suggested that zoochlorellae and zooxanthellae represent ‘cool’ and ‘warm’ symbionts with respect to their field distributions, and that these symbionts may differ in their nutritional contributions to their host. We examined the seasonal distribution, density, and growth of these symbionts in A. xanthogrammica tentacles from tidepools and surge channels on the Olympic peninsula in Washington State, USA, measured temperature variation between these microhabitats, and estimated the contributions of zoochlorellae to A. xanthogrammica diet. Tentacles containing dense concentrations of zoochlorellae were found in both tidepools and surge channels at the lower intertidal limit of anemone occurrence. At the upper intertidal limit, tentacles containing primarily zoochlorellae were found in tidepools, and tentacles containing primarily zooxanthellae were found in surge channels. More extreme high temperatures in the upper surge channel may limit the distribution of zoochlorellae and favor a higher proportion of zooxanthellae in this microhabitat. Despite pronounced seasonal fluctuations in temperature, symbiont composition, density, and dietary carbon sources remained remarkably consistent. Stable isotope analysis showed that A. xanthogrammica received a greater proportion of dietary carbon from zoochlorellae (62−70%) than from heterotrophic feeding on Mytilus californianus mussels (31−38%). This study shows that dense concentrations of zoochlorellae are found in A. xanthogrammica tentacles in cooler microhabitats, and that this symbiont can contribute substantially to anemone nutrition. KEY WORDS: Zoochlorellae · Zooxanthellae · Temperate symbiosis · Anthopleura xanthogrammica Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Levine MR, Muller-Parker G (2012) Distribution patterns and nutritional contributions of algal symbionts in the sea anemone Anthopleura xanthogrammica. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 453:79-94. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09602 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 453. Online publication date: May 07, 2012 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2012 Inter-Research.