Reef Corals: Autotrophs or Heterotrophs?

Goreau, Thomas F.; Goreau, Nora I.; Yonge, C. M.

doi:10.2307/1540115

Cited by 165 publications

(97 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Corals can meet their energetic requirements either via autotrophy through their symbiotic association with dinoflagellates called zooxanthellae (Muscatine et al 1981) or via heterotrophy, i.e., capture of zooplankton and particulate organic matter (Goreau et al 1971;Sebens et al 1996). Zooxanthellae are known to transfer more than 90% of their photosynthates to their host (Muscatine et al 1981), explaining the exceptional development of corals in oligotrophic environments.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Zooxanthellae are known to transfer more than 90% of their photosynthates to their host (Muscatine et al 1981), explaining the exceptional development of corals in oligotrophic environments. Corals are also heterotrophs that are able to catch large amounts of zooplankton (Goreau et al 1971;Sebens et al 1996;Yahel et al 2005) as well as dissolved and particulate organic matter (Anthony and Fabricius 2000). Heterotrophy was proved to significantly enhance the zooxanthellae density, chlorophyll content, as well as the rates of growth and photosynthesis (Anthony and Fabricius 2000;Ferrier-Pagès et al 2003;Houlbrèque et al 2003).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Effect of light and feeding on the fatty acid and sterol composition of zooxanthellae and host tissue isolated from the scleractinian coral Turbinaria reniformis

Treignier

Grover

Ferrier‐Pagés

et al. 2008

Limnology & Oceanography

126

119

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The fatty acid and sterol compositions of zooxanthellae and animal fractions of the scleractinian coral Turbinaria reniformis were investigated under different light and feeding conditions, to study the symbiont-host exchanges. Nubbins were maintained during 6 weeks under two light levels (100 mmol photons m 22 s 21 and 300 mmol photons m 22 s 21 ) and two feeding levels (starved and fed with zooplankton) in a factorial experiment. There were greater proportions of some polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; e.g., C18:4 n-3, C20:5 n-3, C22:6 n-3) in the zooxanthellae than in the host, suggesting that these PUFA were synthesized by the algae and transferred to the animal. Conversely, C20:4 n-6 exhibited a greater proportion in the host and might have been synthesized by the animal. Light affected the chlorophyll content, the rates of photosynthesis, and the lipid production of all coral samples. Corals maintained in high-light conditions had lower relative phytol content but higher concentrations of fatty acids (FA) and sterols than the shaded corals. Feeding also affected coral metabolism, but differently according to the light level and despite the fact that the host did not directly incorporate the zooplankton lipids (PUFA and cholesterol). In low light, feeding resulted in an increase of growth rates and storage lipid concentrations, mainly saturated fatty acids (SAFA) and membrane constituents (PUFA and sterols). In high light, the lipid energy from the food was directed toward an increase in calcification, as well as in chlorophyll content and protein content. This study highlights the importance of feeding in sustaining coral metabolism, especially when light, or stress events, is limiting photosynthesis.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of light and feeding on the fatty acid and sterol composition of zooxanthellae and host tissue isolated from the scleractinian coral Turbinaria reniformis

Treignier

Grover

Ferrier‐Pagés

et al. 2008

Limnology & Oceanography

126

119

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“…It is possible that the amount of label reaching the endoderm was limited only to that portion which could diffuse through the epidermis. Nevertheless, the pattern of 3 H-TdR labeling does not differ significantly from observations of amino acid incorporation by GoREAU, GoREAU & YONGE (1971). Using similar incubation times and concentrations, they found 3 H-DL-leucine activity initially fixed in tall columnar cells of the epidermis, with much less in the gastrodermis, very little in the mesoglea and none in the zooxanthellae.…”

Section: Localization Of Dna Synthesis In Pocillopora Damicornismentioning

confidence: 68%

Cell Proliferation as an Index of Growth in Corals; Incorporation of ^3h-Thymidine

Cheney¹

1973

Publ. SMBL

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Preliminary experiments are described which are designed to quantify the rates of DNA synthesis in corals. Whole colonies or small sections of Pocillopora damicornis and other corals were incubated in up to 1 ,uCi 3 H-thymidine/ml sea water under field and laboratory conditions. The tissue was extracted with hot 2N NaOH and solubilized, and the 3 H-DNA activity was measured with a liquid scintillation spectrometer. Activity was expressed as CPM/mg dry or wet weight or CPM/calice. Specificity and site of the label was confirmed and studied with autoradiography and DNAse extraction. The label was primarily concentrated in the epidermis with maximum activity in the polyp columns and coenosarc. Labeling indices in the tentacles appeared to increase 5 to 7 days after 3 H-thymidine incorporation and this increase was probably due to migration of labeled cells from the polyp column. No 3 H-thymidine uptake occurred in zooxanthellae and very little was taken up by planulae.Labeling between different calices of the coral species was uniform; however, decreasing rates of 3 H-thymidine incorporation were seen from apical polyps to basal branches in ramose forms. DNA synthesis in P. damicornis is markedly influenced by minor variations in incubation temperature.Optimum labeling occurred at an acclimation temperature of 31 oc with a rapid decline in rate on both sides. Indirect evidence demonstrates that the temperature optimum for the incorporation of 3 Hthymidine increases in parallel with the temperature of the habitat.

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“…Even though hermatypic corals have been considered as specialized planktivorous carnivores (Yonge, 1940;Goreau et al, 1971), they possess the ability to occupy several trophic levels. The symbiotic association with zooxanthellae places hermatypic corals at a primary producer level, at the level of herbivores if viewed as consumers of the plant products from their symbiont zooxanthellae (Muscatine and Cernichiari, 1969;Lewis and Smith, 1971), or at the level of secondary consumers if viewed as consumers of zooplankton (Porter, 1974;Goreau et al, 1971).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The symbiotic association with zooxanthellae places hermatypic corals at a primary producer level, at the level of herbivores if viewed as consumers of the plant products from their symbiont zooxanthellae (Muscatine and Cernichiari, 1969;Lewis and Smith, 1971), or at the level of secondary consumers if viewed as consumers of zooplankton (Porter, 1974;Goreau et al, 1971). They also could be viewed as tertiary consumers if competitive exclusion (Lang, 1973) and feeding upon other carnivorous zooplankton is considered.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abundance and Size Distribution of Particulate Matter Fractions near a Caribbean Bank Barrier Reef

Simmons¹

1979

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Recent research indicates that corals have the ability to occupy several trophic levels and that particulate matter (PM) appears to play a major role in meeting their daily energy requirements. A study was undertaken to determine the amount and size distribution of PM near a bank barrier reef off the West Indies Laboratory on St. Croix, U.S.V.I. Size distributions were determined by filtration through selected sieves and filters ranging between 250 and 0.45 pm. Results showed that P M was greater in back-reef than fore-reef areas and greater during day than night hours. The PM collected on the smallest filters (0.45 pm) remained constant during both sampling periods and could potentially supply 60 O/O of the daily energy requirements for corals. Inclusion of the PM on the next size filter (8.0 pm) would more than account for their daily energy requirements. The mean PM abundance found in this study (1.1 mg I-') is the same as that reported at another Caribbean laboratory in the West Indies.

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Reef Corals: Autotrophs or Heterotrophs?

Cited by 165 publications

References 36 publications

Effect of light and feeding on the fatty acid and sterol composition of zooxanthellae and host tissue isolated from the scleractinian coral Turbinaria reniformis

Effect of light and feeding on the fatty acid and sterol composition of zooxanthellae and host tissue isolated from the scleractinian coral Turbinaria reniformis

Cell Proliferation as an Index of Growth in Corals; Incorporation of ^3h-Thymidine

Abundance and Size Distribution of Particulate Matter Fractions near a Caribbean Bank Barrier Reef

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