Meeting Abstract

105.6  Tuesday, Jan. 7 09:15  Algal chloroplast source modifies the duration of photosynthesis of kleptoplastic sea slugs MIDDLEBROOKS, ML*; CURTIS, NE; SCHWARTZ, JA; PIERCE, SK; University of Tampa; University of South Florida; Rollins College; University of South Florida; University of South Florida mmiddlebrooks@ut.edu

Many species of sacoglossan sea slugs are kleptoplastic, the ability to sequester photosynthetically able chloroplasts, taken up from food algae, inside certain digesive cells. Photosynthetic activity provides these slugs with an alternative energy source and may reduce their dependency on continual feeding during times of famine. Many kleptoplastic species are monophagous, feeding on only one species on algae. Other species, such as Elysia clarki, can feed on multiple algal species. Here we examine the effects of algal diet on the photosynthetic ability of E. clarki using pulse amplitude modulation fluorometry (PAM) over an increasing period of starvation, ranging from 0 to 12 weeks. Initially there was no detectable difference in photosynthetic activity between slugs fed different diets; however slugs fed a diet of Penicillus lamourouxii were able to maintain photosynthetic activity for 4 weeks longer than slugs fed a diet of Bryopsis plumosa. Additionally, two other sacoglossan species, E. patina and Placida kingstoni with lesser photosynthetic ability were compared with E. clarki, which feed on the same algal species. The results suggest that slug adaptation rather than algal donor determine the photosynthetic longevity of the plastid.