Light and the bioenergetics of a symbiotic coral

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · BioScience; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1309663· OSTI ID:5932101

Falkowski, P G; Dubinsky, Z; Muscatine, L; Porter, J W

Colonies of coral Stylophora pistillata growing at high light can obtain all the reduced carbon needed for animal respiration from photosynthesis by symbiotic zooxanthellae. In contrast, colonies in shaded reef areas must acquired 60% of their reduced carbon heterotrophically. More than 90% of the carbon fixed by zooxanthellae is translocated to the animal host in both light regimes, but very little is assimilated, apparently because the translocated products are deficient in nitrogen. Thus, the coral's overall growth efficiency is similar to that of aquatic herbivores that forage actively. 29 references, 2 figures, 1 table.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 5932101
• Journal Information: BioScience; (United States), Vol. 34:11
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CARBON
METABOLISM
CORALS
ENERGY BUDGETS
GROWTH
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
NITROGEN
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY
RESPIRATION
SYMBIOSIS
VISIBLE RADIATION
CNIDARIA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
NONMETALS
RADIATIONS
550500* - Metabolism