Ecology of the Symbiotic Coral Cladocora caespitosa (L.) (Faviidae, Scleractinia) in the Bay of Piran (Adriatic Sea): II. Energy Budget期刊界 All Journals 搜尽天下杂志传播学术成果专业期刊搜索期刊信息化学术搜索

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Ecology of the Symbiotic Coral Cladocora caespitosa (L.) (Faviidae, Scleractinia) in the Bay of Piran (Adriatic Sea): II. Energy Budget

Authors:	Christian Schiller

Institution:	Dept. of Marine Biology, Institute of Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstr. 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria

Abstract:	Abstract. The temperate, symbiotic coral Cladocora caespitosa occurs naturally with variable numbers of zooxanthellae. This allows us to study differences in the physiology of symbiotic and "non-symbiotic" polyps and to correlate them with zooxanthellae activities. Zooxanthellae density in "dark" (normal-colored) polyps was 50 times higher than in "white" (bleached) polyps. The chlorophyll a content per zooxanthella was 3 times, and Chi c was 13 times higher in white polyps than in dark ones. O₂-flux experiments were conducted with colonies in situ and with single polyps - dark and white - under laboratory conditions. Two approaches were used to evaluate the contribution of zooxanthellae translocation products to animal respiration. Both revealed that the animal tissues derive a higher benefit from the zooxanthellae during periods of low water temperature than during warm periods.

Keywords:	Anthozoa Hexacorallia zooxanthellae chlorophyll O₂-flux production respiration secondary production Adriatic Sea