The physiology and biochemistry of zooxanthellae symbiotic with marine coelenterates I. The assimilation of photosynthetic products of zooxanthellae by two marine coelenterates

The movement of organic compounds between endosymbiotic zooxanthellae and their marine coelenterate hosts was studied in the sea anemone, Anthopleura elegantissima (Brandt) (Anthozoa, Actiniaria) and the zoanthid, Palythoa townsleyi (Walsh and Bowers) (Anthozoa, Zoanthidea). In both animals, 14C photosynthetically fixed by the algae moved into the animal tissues. In Anthopleura, this represents 45 to 50% of the total photosynthetic fixation in 24 h and, in Palythoa, 20 to 25%. The fixed 14C accumulated by the animal tissues becomes incorporated principally into animal lipid and protein. The significance of translocation to the animal hosts is discussed.