Solar Powered Species - Elysia timida

February 20, 2004
From: Ant Turkmen

I am a PhD student in Turkey. I am very interested in Solar Powered Species and would like to know if the zooxanthellae symbiosis does exist in Elysia timida.

Two years ago, in Yumurtalık (Iskenderun Gulf of Turkey), I've observed very large numbers of E. timida on the algae covered rocks of the littoral zone (0-1m). It was late August. Abundance was 8-10 per square meter. Is this abundance normal for this species? Has anyone recorded similar numbers within the related taxa?

Ant Turkmen

antturkmen@superonline.com

Turkmen, A., 2004 (Feb 20) Solar Powered Species - Elysia timida. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12075

Dear Ant,
Species of Elysia can be 'solar powered' but they don't keep functional zooxanthellae in their bodies as many nudibranchs do. They are sacoglossqans, which are hebivorous, and instead keep chloroplasts from their algal food alive and functioning. E. timida is indeed a species which does this. Here is a good reference on the topic:
• Marin, A., Ros, J.D (1992) Dynamics of a peculiar plant-herbivore relationship: the photosynthetic ascoglossan Elysia timida and the chlorophycean Acetabularia acetabulum. Marine Biology. 112: 677-682, Figs 1-10.

Also have a look at the other messages on this page
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2004 (Feb 20). Comment on Solar Powered Species - Elysia timida by Ant Turkmen. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12075

Factsheet

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