Help needed!

OceanDude · Feb 17, 2014

I've recently become very interested in the symbiotic relationship shared between corals (SPECIFICALLY ZOANTHIDS/POLYPS) and the symbiotic dinoflagellate Zooxanthidae. I have a few questions that may or may not be able to be answered by you guys.

I've been trying to research this relationship for a while but cannot find any articles, journals, studies, anything regarding my questions. So, I guess we can start with my question.

Let's start by making myself clear. I am going to be only talking about zoanthids and zooxanthidae. I know many other species of clams, corals, jellyfish, etc. have this relationship with these dinoflagellates, but I am doing this topic on zoanthids.

So, I am questioning how the symbiotic dinoflagellates, zooxanthidae, are obtained by the host zoanthids. I didn't know if it was an evolutionary thing where millions of years ago, primitive corals gathered these zooxanthidae and then evolved to coexist with these and eventually can reproduce with these zooxanthidae present in the offspring? Since zoanthids asexually reproduce, it makes some sense. However, my biology teacher thinks that the zoanthids can obtain zooxanthidae via gathering them from the water column. I have asked this question to my marine biologist friends and they do not know the exact answer.

This curiosity brings me to the possibility of conducting an experiment with zoanthids. If there is anyone on here who has any ideas for such an experiment, share them with me, as I would be more than happy to try this out!

Cheers, Gavin Barker

reeffirstaid · Feb 17, 2014

Gavin,

Several years ago scientists found that coral species acquire zooanthellae two ways. (1) During the larval stage they take the algae in from the surrounding environment (Horizontal Transmission). (Roughly what your biology teacher said.) (2) The algae is transferred to new corals from the parent. (Vertical Transmission.)

This website may help you learn more:
Zooxanthellae uptake by coral larvae