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Thesis
EFFECTS OF FOOD AVAILABILITY, SALINITY, AND LIGHT INTENSITY ON NET PRODUCTIVITY IN THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC SEA SLUG, ELYSIA CLARKI
University of West Florida
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2014
Abstract
Several sacoglossan sea slugs are famous for the ability to sequester plastids from algal food sources and retain functional plastids within digestive cells. Elysia clarki maintains functional chloroplasts for three months after ingestion. It has been speculated that sacoglossans tolerate harsh conditions by relying on energy produced via photosynthesis. In this study, E. clarki was exposed to changes in three environmental parameters of food availability (starved, fed ad libitum), salinity (30 g kg-1, 35 g kg-1, 40 g kg-1), and light intensity (33.1 imol m-2 s-1, 11.2 imol m-2 s-1). Changes in respiration, chlorophyll concentration, and body composition were measured. Contrary to conventional speculation, the current study shows E. clarki starved for two months lost most of its plastids, and photosynthetic activity was almost undetectable, even under light adequate for photosynthesis. Moreover, light appears to accelerate plastid degradation. Salinity had no significant effect on photosynthetic activity. Body composition of starved slugs was altered, with carbohydrates and proteins changing the most, and lipids changing the least. Light did not alter body composition, which further supports the notion that photosynthates may not prolong survival during long-term starvation. High salinity may induce osmotic stress; however, tested salinity levels did not affect body composition.
Details
- Title
- EFFECTS OF FOOD AVAILABILITY, SALINITY, AND LIGHT INTENSITY ON NET PRODUCTIVITY IN THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC SEA SLUG, ELYSIA CLARKI
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Publisher
- University of West Florida
- Format
- text
- Copyright
- http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
- Identifiers
- 99380090853506600
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida