Abstract

Zooxanthellae symbiotic with stony corals utilise ammonium excreted by resident fish populations. However, the contribution of ammonium produced by anemonefishes to host sea anemones has not been examined. In split-pair laboratory experiments with the giant sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor, one half of each sea anemone was maintained with two individuals of the endemic anemonefish Amphiprion bicinctus, and the other half was maintained without anemonefish. Sea anemone fragments maintained with anemonefish regenerated significantly faster than those without anemonefish. After 8 weeks of regeneration, there were more endosymbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) in the tentacles of sea anemones with anemonefish than in those lacking fish. Adult anemonefish (8 cm total length) each excreted ammonium at a rate of about 0.97 µM h−1. Sea anemones that had been maintained without anemonefish for 4 weeks took up ammonia from enriched water at a faster rate than those that had been maintained with anemonefish, which absorbed very little ammonium. We conclude that anemonefishes provide ammonia for their host anemones and zooxanthellae, enhancing rates of tissue growth and regeneration.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.