Meeting Abstract
When considering venomous lineages, sea anemones (Actiniaria) are atypical in that they do not rely entirely on visual or olfactory cues, obtain nutrients from associated symbionts, and host ectosymbionts from lineages that are typical food sources. For these reasons, we will present summaries of our diverse studies highlighting how sea anemones are an opportune lineage to ask questions about venom in a coevolutionary context. The starlet sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis, is equipped with neurotoxins that exhibit a high number of gene copies throughout their distribution, with some toxins exhibiting regional diversity resembling coevolution potentially influenced by the presence of specific predators or prey. The emerging model sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida persist with and without endosymbionts (zooxanthellae), lending itself to become a focal species when studying symbiont presence/absence and their poorly studied toxin gene repertoire. The aggregating anemone, Anthopleura elegantissima, is a dominant intertidal species found along the Pacific coast of North America that naturally occurs in 3 distinct symbiotic states, with symbiont presence (Elliptochloris marina or Symbiodinium muscatinei) having a significant impact on venom gene expression. Finally, the long tentacle anemone, Macrodactyla doreensis, hosts both zooxanthellae and clownfish, which provide nutrients (and sometimes protection), likely a feedback mechanism impacting the overall toxin repertoire when in association. Across Actiniaraia these species engage in dynamic interactions with a variety of predators, prey, and symbionts; much of which we are only beginning to understand, making the lineage as a whole an ideal system to test hypotheses regarding venom evolution and function.
