Nutritional drivers of adult locomotion and asexual reproduction in a symbiont-hosting sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana

Bedgood, Samuel A.; Ryan, Will H.; Levell, Samantha; Wulff, Janie L.

doi:10.1007/s00227-020-3649-3

Cited by 26 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…We found evidence for a trade-off between autotrophic and heterotrophic nutritional pathways within an algal-symbiont-hosting sea anemone, but these pathways are not equal. We propose that autotrophy allows for persistence, but growth probably requires heterotrophy as evidenced in this and other studies on cnidarians [61,67].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Flexibility of nutritional strategies within a mutualism: food availability affects algal symbiont productivity in two congeneric sea anemone species

Bedgood

Mastroni

2020

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Mutualistic symbioses are common, especially in nutrient-poor environments where an association between hosts and symbionts can allow the symbiotic partners to persist and collectively out-compete non-symbiotic species. Usually these mutualisms are built on an intimate transfer of energy and nutrients (e.g. carbon and nitrogen) between host and symbiont. However, resource availability is not consistent, and the benefit of the symbiotic association can depend on the availability of resources to mutualists. We manipulated the diets of two temperate sea anemone species in the genus Anthopleura in the field and recorded the responses of sea anemones and algal symbionts in the family Symbiodiniaceae to our treatments. Algal symbiont density, symbiont volume and photosynthetic efficiency of symbionts responded to changes in sea anemone diet, but the responses depended on the species of sea anemone. We suggest that temperate sea anemones and their symbionts can respond to changes in anemone diet, modifying the balance between heterotrophy and autotrophy in the symbiosis. Our data support the hypothesis that symbionts are upregulated or downregulated based on food availability, allowing for a flexible nutritional strategy based on external resources.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Flexibility of nutritional strategies within a mutualism: food availability affects algal symbiont productivity in two congeneric sea anemone species

Bedgood

Mastroni

2020

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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“…Running longitudinally along the inner gastrodermal epithelial layer are mesenteries—structures radially arranged around the oral-aboral axis that contain gonads and muscles that help support the body column. The aboral pedal disc is used for locomotion and helps adhere the polyp to surfaces ( Shick, 2012 ; Bedgood et al, 2020 ; Clarke, Davey & Aldred, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tentacle patterning during Exaiptasia diaphana pedal lacerate development differs between symbiotic and aposymbiotic animals

Presnell

Wirsching

Weis

2022

PeerJ

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Exaiptasia diaphana, a tropical sea anemone known as Aiptasia, is a tractable model system for studying the cellular, physiological, and ecological characteristics of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Aiptasia is widely used as a proxy for coral-algal symbiosis, since both Aiptasia and corals form a symbiosis with members of the family Symbiodiniaceae. Laboratory strains of Aiptasia can be maintained in both the symbiotic (Sym) and aposymbiotic (Apo, without algae) states. Apo Aiptasia allow for the study of the influence of symbiosis on different biological processes and how different environmental conditions impact symbiosis. A key feature of Aiptasia is the ease of propagating both Sym and Apo individuals in the laboratory through a process called pedal laceration. In this form of asexual reproduction, small pieces of tissue rip away from the pedal disc of a polyp, then these lacerates eventually develop tentacles and grow into new polyps. While pedal laceration has been described in the past, details of how tentacles are formed or how symbiotic and nutritional state influence this process are lacking. Here we describe the stages of development in both Sym and Apo pedal lacerates. Our results show that Apo lacerates develop tentacles earlier than Sym lacerates, while over the course of 20 days, Sym lacerates end up with a greater number of tentacles. We describe both tentacle and mesentery patterning during lacerate development and show that they form through a single pattern in early stages regardless of symbiotic state. In later stages of development, Apo lacerate tentacles and mesenteries progress through a single pattern, while variable patterns were observed in Sym lacerates. We discuss how Aiptasia lacerate mesentery and tentacle patterning differs from oral disc regeneration and how these patterning events compare to postembryonic development in Nematostella vectensis, another widely-used sea anemone model. In addition, we demonstrate that Apo lacerates supplemented with a putative nutrient source developed an intermediate number of tentacles between un-fed Apo and Sym lacerates. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that pedal lacerates progress through two different, putatively nutrient-dependent phases of development. In the early phase, the lacerate, regardless of symbiotic state, preferentially uses or relies on nutrients carried over from the adult polyp. These resources are sufficient for lacerates to develop into a functional polyp. In the late phase of development, continued growth and tentacle formation is supported by nutrients obtained from either symbionts and/or the environment through heterotrophic feeding. Finally, we advocate for the implementation of pedal lacerates as an additional resource in the Aiptasia model system toolkit for studies of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.

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“…This behaviour is also highlighted in text books (e.g., Fosså & Nilsen, 1996) and by hobbyists. Neither feeding nor cutting resulted in greater movement, but adult movement occurs in response to changes in light (Pearse, 1974) and nutritional requirements (Bedgood et al, 2020), whilst hobbyists also state that correct water flow is essential. Flow rates within the tanks were much lower than the powerhead‐driven flows often seen in a hobbyist's aquarium, so this would be an important area to focus on for culture methods.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing anemone aquaculture for the marine aquarium trade: A case study using the bubble‐tip anemone Entacmaea quadricolor

Watson

Younger

2022

Aquaculture Research

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Anemones are important aquaculture targets for the marine aquarium trade. We explore survival and growth of whole (W) and half (H) bubble‐tip anemones (Entacmaea quadricolor) under: no food (−F−N), directed feeding (+F−N) and/or providing dissolved nutrients (−F+N, +F+N). Treatment effects were assessed using multiple endpoints including: survivorship, weight loss, behaviour and symbiotic‐community responses. Survival analysis confirms highly significant differences among treatments. All treatments resulted in weight loss, but only +F−N resulted in significantly lower weight loss than ‐F+N. All anemones were highly mobile; however, no significant differences for days active, upside down and detached were recorded and the vast majority of anemones did not expel zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae and chlorophyll pigment concentrations varied over time indicating host‐symbiont plasticity. Cutting does not affect zooxanthellae number or pigment concentrations, but dissolved nutrient delivery significantly reduces zooxanthellae numbers and the chlorophyll C concentration per zooxanthellae cell compared with controls. Cutting is a simple culture method that should be routinely used, but more precise regulation of nutrient delivery and feeding is required before they can be incorporated. Finally, for hobbyists to make informed decisions about choosing an anemone, we recommend a review of E. quadricolor's and other species’ suitability for long‐term aquarium captivity.

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Nutritional drivers of adult locomotion and asexual reproduction in a symbiont-hosting sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana

Cited by 26 publications

References 65 publications

Flexibility of nutritional strategies within a mutualism: food availability affects algal symbiont productivity in two congeneric sea anemone species

Flexibility of nutritional strategies within a mutualism: food availability affects algal symbiont productivity in two congeneric sea anemone species

Tentacle patterning during Exaiptasia diaphana pedal lacerate development differs between symbiotic and aposymbiotic animals

Developing anemone aquaculture for the marine aquarium trade: A case study using the bubble‐tip anemone Entacmaea quadricolor

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