Symbiotic zooxanthellae

Fankboner, P. V. (1971). Intracellular digestion of symbiotic zooxanthellae by host amoebocytes in giant clams (Bivalvia Tridacnidae) with a note on the nutritional role of the hypertrophied siphonal epidermis, Biol. Bull., 141, 222-234. 

Although perhaps not an attraction to nutrients in a strict sense, symbiotic dino-flagellates (zooxanthellae) have been known for some time to be attracted to host invertebrates (which ultimately provide them with nutrients), presumably via chemical cues from the hosts (Kinzie 1974 Fitt 1984). These cues may include ammonia and nitrate released from the host (Fitt 1984). Recently Pasternak et al. (2004) demonstrated chemoattraction by Symbiodinium sp. to cell-free homogenates of juvenile soft coral polyps, which did not previously have symbiotic zooxanthellae, but not to adult polyps, which did already have symbiotic algae. The attraction was subsequently shown to be a true chemotactic response with an additional chemoki-netic effect of the algae swimming slower in the presence of host chemical cues (Pasternak et al. 2006). 

Pasternak Z, Bachar A, Abelson A, Achituv Y (2004) Initiation of symbiosis between the soft coral Heteroxenia fuscescens and its zooxanthellae. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 279 113-116 Pasternak Z, Blasius B, Abelson A, Achituv Y (2006) Host-finding behaviour and navigation capabilities of symbiotic zooxanthellae. Coral Reefs 25 201-207 Patel P, Callow ME, Joint I, Callow JA (2003) Specificity in the settlement - modifying response of bacterial biofilms towards zoospores of the marine alga Enteromorpha. Environ Microbiol 5 338-349... 

Fig. 3.10 Cliona nigricans, a boring sponge found in the Ligurian Sea, Italy, that contains the clionastatins A and B (659 and 660). The brown color is due to symbiotic zooxanthellae (Photo C. Cerrano)...

Hill, M.S., Symbiotic zooxanthellae enhance boring and growth rates of the tropical sponge Anthosig-mella varians forma varians, Mar. Biol., 125, 649, 1996. 

Cnidarian with symbiotic zooxanthellae capturing zooplankton and dissolved organic and inorganic nitrogen and excreting mucus... 

P.L. Jokiel, R.H. York Jr. (1982). Solar ultraviolet photobiology of the reef coral Pocillopora damicornis and symbiotic zooxanthellae. Bull. Mar. Sci., 32, 301-315. 

Hoegh-Guldberg, O. and Williamson, J. (1999) Availability of two forms of dissolved nitrogen to the coral Pocillapora damicomis and its symbiotic zooxanthellae. Coral Reefs, 133, 561-570. 

Ribes, M., Coma, R. and Gili, J.M. (1998) Heterotrophic feeding by gorgonian corals with symbiotic zooxanthella. limnology and Oceanography, 43, 1170-1179. 

The incorporation of labelled acetate into cholesterol in coelenterata has not been demonstrated. Thus, it is likely that various sterols in coelenterata are of algal origin. They may be obtained either in the diet or by transfer from symbiotic zooxanthellae. 

Another metabolite extracted and isolated from extracts of Pseudopterogorgia acerosa is acerosterol, 90. This tetrahydroxy sterol was first isolated by John et al. [57] (see also references within). It should be noted that dinosterol 55, and other similar derivatives having a-methyl substituents have been isolated from marine invertebrates containing a symbiotic zooxanthellae. Thus, it is speculated that acerosterol, 90, may... 

---