Potential energetic and oxygenic benefits to unstable photosymbiosis in the cladobranch slug, Berghia stephanieae (Nudibranchia, Aeolidiidae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Some cladobranch sea slugs host algae (Symbiodiniaceae), forming stable or unstable photosymbiotic relationships. Although some benefits from retaining symbionts have been described in stable photosymbioses, unstable photosymbioses remain largely uninvestigated. We examined two potential benefits – nutrition and oxygen produced via photosynthesis – in the unstable cladobranch model species, Berghia stephanieae. To investigate potential nutritive benefits, we conducted transmission electron microscopy and observed both partially digested symbionts and lipid droplets, indicating that B. stephanieae benefits energetically from hosting zooxanthellae through digestion. Since increased temperatures can cause oxygen limitation, any oxygenic benefits B. stephanieae receives from photosynthesis could influence their thermal tolerance, allowing photosynthetic slugs to withstand higher temperatures than specimens where photosynthesis is limited or absent. To assess this, we measured the maximum temperature they can withstand before succumbing to heat-shock under three light intensities (0, 100 and 700 µmol m-2s-1). Oxygen uptake was measured before and after heat-shock to determine whether uptake was affected by thermal stress. Slugs exposed to high light displayed significantly lower thermal limits than those at zero or moderate light, indicating exposure to acute high light negatively impacts thermal tolerance. Lastly, we assessed if and how light affects juvenile development and survival. Juveniles exposed to moderate light survived longest, while both other light intensities reduced survival. These investigations demonstrate that unstable photosymbiosis provides B. stephanieae with nutritive benefits during different ontogenetic stages. Oxygenic benefits are less clear, as slugs exposed to thermal stress in dark and under moderate light did not display different thermal tolerances.