Abstract
The effects of various environmental parameters on zooxanthellae isolated from the sea anemone Condylactis gigantea were studied under controlled conditions in the laboratory. We determined that the zooxanthellae, identified as Symbiodinium microadriaticum, (by Trench. B.) belong to clade B. These algae were exposed to a range of temperatures (17, 21.7, 26 °C), light intensities (25, 30, 45, 85 μmol q m −2 s −1) and nutrient regimes. While growth rate was relatively independent of treatment, respiration increased significantly with temperature. Both light and temperature did have a significant effect on photosynthetic parameters. The cultured zooxanthellae responded to the environment in ways similar to those of freshly isolated ones, and survived under a wide range of temperatures (17, 21.7, 26 °C). In general, clade B seems to be flexible and well adapted to the temperature range encountered in seawater throughout its wide global distribution.
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