P. Spencer Davies

Short-term growth measurements of corals using an accurate buoyant weighing technique

An accurate method for determining the growth rates of the skeleton of isolated branch tips (nubbins) of corals over intervals of less than 24 h is described. The skeletal weight of the coral was estimated from its buoyant weight in seawater whose density had been accurately determined. The coral tissues accounted for between 1 and 5% of the total buoyant weight in Pocillopora verrucosa and Acropora humilis with differing relative tissue biomass. After correcting for tissue buoyant weight, predictions of skeletal weight were accurate to within 1%. The method was used to estimate the growth of sample nubbins of Porites porites of similar diameter, in 2 m of water at Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Since growth of these branch tips is apical, growth rate could be expressed without correction for the size. The mean 24 h skeletal growth rate ranged between 40 and 47 mg. Differences could be measured between day-time and night-time growth, the day: night ratio being 3.7. The method also showed that P. porites virtually ceases calcification during the 4 to 5 d periods that it becomes enclosed in a mucus tunic. Nubbins of P. porites attached to the reef at different locations showed clear differences in growth rate with depth, and between clear and turbid water sites. The growth rate of nubbins was compared with that of branch tips of whole corals by measuring the linear extension after staining with Alizarin Red S. After 3 1/2 mo, the mean linear extension was 4.1 mm in each case, indicating that the growth rate of nubbins is the same as that of branch tips of the whole colony. It is suggested that this buoyant weighing technique will find applications in laboratory experiments with calcification mechanisms and as a bioassay on reefs exposed to environmental stress.

The role of zooxanthellae in the nutritional energy requirements of Pocillopora eydouxi

Previous studies have attempted to quantify the nutritional importance of zooxanthellae to the respiratory requirements of their host, from measurements of the 24 h photosynthesis to respiration ratio. This preliminary study explores an alternative approach by trying to account for the energy fixed in photosynthesis in terms of expenditure, storage and loss. The energy budget so derived for Pocillopora eydouxi suggests that about 51% of the photosynthetically fixed energy is used in respiration, 0.9% in growth and 48% is unaccounted for and presumably lost from the colony. By partitioning the energy budget, it is found that 24% of the respiration and 11% of the energy retained in growth is attributable to the zooxanthellae. It is postulated that nutritionally, a coral is analogous to an aphid in being supplied with a high carbon diet and in being obliged to excrete the excess, probably in the form of mucus.

An energy budget for Porites porites (Scleractinia)

An energy budget for Porites porites (Pallas) was determined for specimens from 10 m depth on the Fore Reef of Discovery Bay, Jamaica, between July 1984 and July 1985. Evidence for habitual zooplankton ingestion was not obtained, and P. porites appears to be largely autotrophic. Out of the daily photosynthetically fixed energy, 26% is used for animal respiration and growth, 22% for zooxanthellae respiration and growth, and <1% for colony reproduction as mature planulae; 45% remains unaccounted for. Colony respiration, net photosynthesis, colony skeleton and tissue growth, zooplankton ingestion, reproductive effort and energy content of tissues were measured. Energy loss as continuous mucus secretion was not detected, but may occur by an alternative route via mucus tunics, which occur periodically in situ and in the laboratory. The energy budget suggests that a considerable excess of photosynthetically fixed energy is produced on an ideal sunny day at 10 m depth. This surplus may be required for periodic rather than continuous energy demands, or may be essential to survive “less-than-ideal” days, when net photosynthetic input is reduced.

Effect of daylight variations on the energy budgets of shallow-water corals

Energy budgets were determined for small pieces (nubbins) of the coralsPocillopora damicornis, Montipora verrucosa andPorites lobata living at a water depth of 3 m on the fringing reef of Coconut Island, Kaneohe, Hawaii. The budgets were determined for three different types of day: an “ideal” day with no cloud and an in situ daily integrated irradiance at 3 m of 14.385 E m−2 d−1; a “normal” day with sporadic cloud cover and daily irradiance of 11.915 E m−2 d−1; and an “overcast” day with daily irradiance of 6.128 E m−2 d−1. On the “ideal” day, the energy fixed in photosynthesis was more than that required for respiration and growth of both zooxanthellae and animal components of the association, and there was a predicted loss of between 19.3 and 32.4% of the energy fixed. On a “normal” day, the total photosynthetic energy fixation was lower and the excess was between 12.1 and 27.9% of the energy fixed. On the “overcast” day, however, in bothPocillopora damicornis andPorites lobata energy expenditure exceeded photosynthetic energy fixation and the budget was in deficit. Estimates of rate of mucus secretion on an “overcast” day were derived and, when incorporated into the energy budget, it was predicted that all three species would have a deficit budget, necessitating the catabolism of lipid reserves. From published values for lipid storage in these species it was calculated that the reserves would last from 28 d inPocillopora damicornis to 114 d inM. verrucosa. A model is suggested in which corals draw upon their extensive lipid stores on days of sub-optimal light, replenishing the reserves again when daily light levels are high, and finally excreting the excess energy fixed, as mucus-lipid when the lipid stores are replete.

Physiological ecology of Patella . I. The effect of body size and temperature on metabolic rate

The metabolic or respiratory rate, measured as the aerobic oxygen uptake, of the limpets Patella vulgata L. and P. aspera Lamarck was determined over a range of temperatures in January and in July. In order to determine the effects upon metabolism of adaptation to habitat, P. vulgata living at high shore levels were compared with those living at low shore levels. The respiratory rate is proportional to the power –0·3042 of the fresh body weight and the relationship is not affected by temperature or season, and is the same for both species. There is very little difference in the rates of respiration of equal weight individuals of P. aspera and either group of P. vulgata in January. In July the respiratory rate of low-level P. vulgata and of P. aspera is higher than in January whilst that of the high-level P. vulgata is little changed. The Q10 of respiration had a low value between the temperatures of 15–20° C in both species, and this is thought to represent a hitherto unrecognized form of acclimation to maintain metabolic constancy over the mean environmental temperature range. In P. vulgata low values of Q10 were correlated with high environmental temperatures. Lower Q10s were recorded in July than in January and, in addition, limpets which were adapted to the elevated temperature of high shore levels in July had lower Q10s than the limpets from low shore levels. This apparent acclimation of Q10 was not observed in P. aspera . The significance of the differences in metabolic rate and in Q10 are discussed in relation to acclimation and its importance in the ecological distribution of the two species.

Physiological ecology of Patella . III. Desiccation effects

Experiments were carried out to assess the importance of desiccation during tidal exposure upon the vertical distribution of the intertidal limpets Patella aspera and P. vulgat vulgata. The rate at which water is lost during desiccation varies inversely with body size.

Lipids of some Caribbean and Red Sea corals: total lipid, wax esters, triglycerides and fatty acids

The Caribbean reef-building corals Porites porites (Pallas) and Montastrea annularis (Ellis and Solander) and the Red Sea corals Pocillopora verrucosa (Ellis and Solander), Stylophora pistillata (Esper) and Goniastrea retiformis (Lamark) were analysed for total lipid, wax ester and triglyceride content, and fatty acid composition. M. annularis contained about 32% of dry weight as total lipid, whereas much lower values of between 11 and 17% were recorded for the other four species. It is concluded that there is greater variation in coral total lipid than hitherto thought. The total lipid contained a substantial proportion of wax ester (22 to 49%) and triglyceride (18 to 37%). The storage lipids (wax esters and triglycerides) accounted for between 6 and 20% of the dry weight and between 46 and 73% of the total lipid. Variation in lipid content between species could not be attributed to geographical location, but the low values for total lipid in Red Sea corals may in part be due to environmental factors as these samples were collected in winter. All corals analysed contained high levels of saturated fatty acids, the most abundant fatty acids being 16:0, 18:0 and 18:1n-9. Marked differences were observed in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content between species, with comparatively low levels of 10 and 11% of fatty acids being recorded in M. annularis and G. retiformis, respectively. The values for the other species ranged between 21 and 37%. Fatty acid composition may vary according to the proportions of fatty acids obtained from diet, algal photosynthesis and synthesis by the animal tissues.

An energy budget for Porites porites (Scleractinia), growing in a stressed environment

An energy budget was determined for the coral Porites porites living in a stressed environment for comparison of the energy inputs and expenditure with those of the same species living in an adjacent clear water fore reef environment. The stressed site was characterised by higher sedimentation and lower irradiances than at the fore reef site. Zooplankton ingestion was found to be an insignificant component of the energy intake: the coral is fully autotrophic under stress conditions. The integrated 24 h rate of photosynthetic energy production on a clear sunny day was 20% higher for stressed corals compared to fore reef corals. This was largely the result of photoadaptation which resulted in increased values for α and decreased values for Ik in the hyperbolic tangent function equation for the photosynthesis versus irradiance curve. The energy investment in growth of animal tissue was lower in stressed corals. The percentage translocation of photosynthase to the animal tissue remained at about 78%, but the respiration rate of the animal tissue was reduced by 3 fold. These data combined with the high rate of photosynthetic production predict a net daily energy surplus of 67% in stressed corals compared with the 45% surplus in unstressed corals. Scope for growth is reduced under stress conditions.

Cytology of carcinus haemocytes and their function in carbohydrate metabolism

Abstract 1. 1. Haemocytes of the common shore crab, Carcinus maenas, have been examined under the light and electron microscopes. 2. 2. Two morphologically distinct cell types are observed and the cytology of each has been described. 3. 3. Histochemical analysis confirms the presence of a large glycogen store and of an acid polysaccharide component (which may be chitin) in one of the cell types. 4. 4. Preliminary analysis suggests that haemocytes may contain glucose-6-phosphatase, and since it is known that the blood polysaccharide fraction incorporates radioactive glucose, a central role for haemocytes in the metabolism of carbohydrates is strongly suggested .

Effect of exogenous cholecystokinin on the discharge of the gallbladder and the secretion of trypsin and chymotrypsin from the pancreas of the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

The humoral control of release of the proteases trypsin and chymotrypsin was investigated in the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Intraperitoneal injection of a purified preparation of the peptide cholecystokinin (CCK) from pig into starved fish produces a dose-dependent release of both enzymes from the pyloric caeca/pancreas tissues which accumulate in the intestinal contents (digesta). It also induces release of the contents of the gallbladder. Isolated preparations of pyloric caeca/pancreas when incubated with CCK release trypsin and chymotrypsin. It is concluded that while a possible role for a neuronal component to the control and regulation of these enzymes cannot be ruled out, humoral control by a CCK-like peptide has been established. The fact that a mammalian-derived extract of CCK induces this response in fish indicates an early evolution and subsequent conservation of this control mechanism in the vertebrates.