Nutritional exchange in a tropical tripartite symbiosis: direct evidence for the transfer of nutrients from anemonefish to host anemone and zooxanthellae |
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Authors: | Ann Cleveland E Alan Verde Raymond W Lee |
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Institution: | (1) Corning School of Ocean Studies, Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, ME 04420, USA;(2) School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA |
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Abstract: | The relationship between anemones and anemonefishes is an oft-cited and endearing example of a mutualistic symbiosis. Current
research on mutualistic symbioses suggests these relationships are more commonplace and have greater importance at the ecosystem
level on nutrient dynamics and evolutionary processes than previously thought. Using stable isotopes 15N and 13C, both field and laboratory experiments were designed to investigate whether nutrient transfer from two species of resident
anemonefishes (Amphiprion perideraion and A. clarkii) to host anemones (Heteractis crispa) occurs. Mass spectroscopy indicated that both 15N and 13C were significantly elevated in the tissues of anemonefishes and in both host anemone and zooxanthellae fractions. These
experiments provide the first direct empirical evidence of nitrogen and carbon transfer from resident anemonefishes to host
anemones and endosymbiotic zooxanthellae. Such transfer of elements within this intriguing tripartite association underscores
the central role that nutrient dynamics contributes to the evolutionary processes of these marine symbioses. |
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