Abstract.The sacoglossan sea slugElysia clarkifeeds on siphonaceous algae, and intracellularly sequesters chloroplasts, which actively photosynthesize for 4 months. We have determined the algal source of chloroplasts in adults ofE. clarkifrom the Florida Keys, using molecular techniques, feeding experiments, and electron microscopy. Our results clearly demonstrate that specimens ofE. clarkisequester chloroplasts from four different species of algae, representing two genera:Penicillus lamourouxii, P. capitatus, Halimeda incrassata, andH. monile.In addition, chloroplasts from more than one species of algae are sequestered simultaneously in the same digestive cell.
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Curtis et al. (2006) studied this question.
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