Translocation and Energetic Contribution of Zooxanthellae toAnimal Reproductive Effort

共生协会在我们的环境中很常见，对动植物物种的成功可能是极其重要的。其中一些最有趣的发现是在珊瑚礁环境中，涉及一种被称为虫黄藻的藻类共生体和各种无脊椎动物宿主。珊瑚礁构成了依赖藻类共生的主要生态系统。全球变暖被认为会导致珊瑚共生体的漂白，从而抑制珊瑚的繁殖。了解寄主生物共生与繁殖之间的关系，对于理解共生生态系统是至关重要的。藻类共生体构成了珊瑚礁大部分初级生产力的基础，因为它们将二氧化碳和其他无机化合物转化为可供宿主物种利用的有机物质。珊瑚礁环境中的大量物种可以支持物种的高度多样性。也许最重要的、未被问到的关于虫黄共生的问题是：“共生的虫黄对其无脊椎动物宿主的繁殖成功有什么影响？”将要使用的物种是海洋鼻涕虫--疣角贝格亚。该物种具有许多特征，这使得它对于研究动物共生的生殖分支特别有用。这些因素包括(1)它自己的虫黄藻共生，(2)它在实验室里容易培养，(3)它产下的是离散的，容易收集的卵块。这个项目将利用生化分析、放射性同位素和能量分析来确定虫黄藻产生的有机物质的哪一部分被结合到疣角伯吉亚的卵中。这项研究得出的结果和结论将有助于更好地了解虫黄藻在珊瑚礁物种的繁殖和成功繁殖中的作用，这些物种的组织中含有这些共生体。

Symbiotic associations are common in our environment and, may be extremely important to the success of both plant and animal species. Some of the most interesting are found in the coral reef environment and involve an algal symbiont known as zooxanthellae and various invertebrate hosts. Coral reefs constitute a major ecosystem that is dependent on algal symbiosis. Global warming is thought to cause bleaching in coral symbionts and this inhibits reproduction of coral. An understanding of the relationship between symbiosis and reproduction in host organisms is essential to the understanding of symbiotic ecosystems. Algal symbionts form the basis for much of the reef's primary productivity since they convert carbon dioxide and other inorganic compounds into organic substances that can be utilized by host species. A high diversity of species may be supported in large numbers in the reef environment. Perhaps the most important, unasked, question about zooxanthellae symbiosis is: "What effects do symbiotic zooxanthellae have on the reproductive success of their invertebrate hosts?" The species to be used is Berghia verrucicornis, a marine slug. This species has a number of characteristics that make it particularly useful for studying the reproductive ramifications of zooxanthealle symbiosis. These include (1) its own zooxanthellae symbiosis, (2) its ease of culture in the lab, and (3) the fact that it lays discrete, easily collected egg masses. This project will utilize biochemical analyses, radioisotopes, and energetic analysis to determine what portion of the organic materials produced by zooxanthellae are incorporated into the eggs of Berghia verrucicornis. The results and conclusions derived from this research will provide for a better understanding of the role of zooxanthellae in the reproduction and success of reef-dwelling species that harbor these symbionts in their tissues.//