Skip to main content
Log in

Expulsion of zooxanthellae by symbiotic cnidarians from the Red Sea

  • Published:
Coral Reefs Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The expulsion of zooxanthellae by octocorals (Xenia macrospiculata and Heteroxenia fuscescens), the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata, and the hydrocoral Millepora dichotoma, was measured in the field. The numbers expelled did not exceed 0.1% of the total standing stock of symbiotic algae per day, the rate of expulsion was less than 4% of the rate at which cells are added to symbiotic populations, and the carbon lost represented 0.01% of the total carbon fixed on a daily basis. Expulsion of zooxanthellae is therefore not a significant sink for fixed carbon in these symbiotic associations. In contrast to field populations, expulsion by X. macrospiculata increased 5-fold or more in the laboratory, suggesting that laboratory conditions may introduce stress.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Buchsbaum V (1968) Behavioral and physiological responses to light by the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima as related to its algal endosymbionts. PhD thesis, Stanford University

  • Coles SL, Jokiel PL (1978) Synergistic effects of temperature, salinity and light on the hermatypic coral Montipora verrucosa. Mar Biol 49:187–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Franzisket L (1970) The atrophy of hermatypic reef corals maintained in darkness and their subsequent regeneration in light. Int Rev Ges Hydrobiol 55:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Glynn PW (1983) Extensive “bleaching” and death of reef corals on the Pacific coast of Panama. Environ Conserv 10:149–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Glynn PW (1984) Widespread coral mortality and the 1982–83 El Nino warming event. Environ Conserv 11:133–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Gohar HAF (1940) Studies on the Xeniidae of the Red Sea. Their ecology, physiology, taxonomy, and phylogeny. Publ Mar Biol Stn Ghardaqa Red Sea 2:25–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Goreau TF (1964) Mass expulsion of zooxanthellae from Jamaican reef communities after hurricane Flora. Science 145:383–386

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaap WC (1979) Observations on zooxanthellae expulsion at Middle Sambo Reef, Florida Keys. Bull Mar Sci 29:414–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Jokiel PL, Coles SL (1974) Effects of heated effluent on hermatypic corals at Kahe Point, Oahu. Pac Sci 28:1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Johannes RE, Wiebe WJ (1970) Amethod for determination of coral tissue biomass and composition. Limnol Oceanogr 15:822–824

    Google Scholar 

  • Kevin KM, Hudson RCL (1979) The role of zooxanthellae in the hermatypic coral Plesiastrea versipora from cold waters. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 36:157–170

    Google Scholar 

  • McCloskey LR, Muscatine L (1984) Production and respiration in the Red Sea coral Stylophora pistillata as a function of depth Proc R Soc London Ser B 222:215–230

    Google Scholar 

  • McDuff RE, Chisholm SW (1982) The calculation of in situ growth rates of phytoplankton populations from fractions of cells undergoing mitosis: a clarification. Limnol Oceanogr 27:783–788

    Google Scholar 

  • Muller-Parker G (1984) Photophysiology of the symbiotic sea anemone Aiptasia pulchella. PhD thesis, University of California, Los Angeles

  • Muscatine L (1980) Productivity of zooxanthellae. In: Falkowski PG (ed) Primary productivity in the sea. Plenum Press, New York, pp 381–402

    Google Scholar 

  • Muscatine L, Falkowski PG, Porter JW, Dubinsky Z (1984) Fate of photosynthetic fixed carbon in light and shade-adapted colonies of the symbiotic coral Stylophora pistillata. Proc R Soc London Ser B 222:181–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Muscatine L, McCloskey LR, Loya Y (1985) A comparison of growth rates of zooxanthellae and animal tissue in the Red Sea coral Styllophora pistillata. Proc 5th Int Coral Reef Symp 6:119–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Reimer AA (1971) Observations on the relationships between several species of zoanthid (Zoanthidea, Coelenterata) and their zooxanthellae. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 7:207–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer Davies P (1984) The role of zooxanthellae in the nutritional energy requirements of Pocillopora exdouxi. Coral Reefs 2:181–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Steele RD (1975) Stages in the life history of a symbiotic zooxanthellae in pellets extruded by its host Aiptasia tagetes. Biol Bull 149:590–600

    Google Scholar 

  • Steele RD (1976) Light intensity as a factor in the regulation of the density of symbiotic zooxanthellae in Aiptasia tagetes. J Zool Lond 179:387–405

    Google Scholar 

  • Steele RD (1977) The significance of zooxanthellae-containing pellets extruded by sea anemones. Bull Mar Sci 27:591–594

    Google Scholar 

  • Trench RK (1979) The cell biology of plant-animal symbiosis. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 30:485–531

    Google Scholar 

  • Tytler EM, Spencer Davies PS (1984) Photosynthetic production and respiratory energy expenditure in the anemone Anemonia sulcata. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 81:73–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkerson FP, Muller-Parker G, Muscatine L (1983) Temporal patterns of cell division in natural populations of endosymbiotic algae. Limnol Oceanogr 28:1009–1014

    Google Scholar 

  • Yonge CM, Nicholls AG (1931) Studies on the physiology of corals V. The effects of starvation in light and darkness on the relationship between corals and zooxanthellae. Sci Rep Gt Barrier Reef Exped 1928–29 1:177–211

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hoegh-Guldberg, O., McCloskey, L.R. & Muscatine, L. Expulsion of zooxanthellae by symbiotic cnidarians from the Red Sea. Coral Reefs 5, 201–204 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300964

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300964

Keywords

Navigation