Re: Update on Elysia crispata feeding

May 2, 2005
From: Lindsey Holm

For the past three months, I have been using in vitro lab experimentation to study the feeding habits of Elysia crispata in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, Caribbean. [01 Feb 2005 thru 28 Apr 2005]. Seven different species of local algae were selected for experimentation based on (1) if they had been suggested as a food source in previous research (e.g. Caulerpa, Bryopsis, Halimeda) and/or (2) the algae was prevalent in areas with high densities of Elysia crispata. A control with no algae was also established. The eight feeding assays were conducted in a dark environment to prevent E. crispata from deriving nutrition via photosynthesis, therefore forcing the slugs to consume the specific alga present or perish. The results of the assays are quite perplexing. After 87 days (~3 months) of complete darkness (except for when seawater and algae were changed), four out of forty slugs are still alive. Not a problem except, two of the four slugs alive are 'controls' (i.e. no algae present). How do Elysia crispata survive for 3 months with no algae to consume or light to photosynthesize? The only explanations I have at this time are that the slugs are deriving nutrition from some sort of bacterial film, or they are able to slow down their metabolism and enter a semi-dormant phase as a method for conserving enough energy. Another interesting result of the feeding assays was that the Elysia seemed to survive best on the green alga Caulerpa verticillata (fecal pellets were observed). However, C. verticillata was collected from a mangrove lagoon in St. Thomas, a place where E. crispata has never been observed to my knowledge. These confounding results demonstrate just how little we know about Elysia crispata and that more research is needed. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Lindsey Holm
University of the Virgin Islands
2 John Brewers Bay
St. Thomas, VI 00802

Sweep00@hotmail.com

Holm, L.A., 2005 (May 2) Re: Update on Elysia crispata feeding. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13687

Dear Lindsey,
Thanks for joining the discussion. New ideas and information is always welcome. Have you any information on the state of the survivors? Are they healthy or undernourished? Perhaps they are just better at surviving starvation? Opisthobranchs can last some time without food and often if you look at their internal organs you will find they have absorbed their gonads, and sometimes even their reproductive system, in an attempt to overcome starvation - almost as though they are using them as a vertebrate would use a fat supply. Elsewhere on the Forum I describe how the coral-eating Pinufius rebus absorbs body tissues when kept in the dark [see Fact Sheet]. This is a carnivore with symbiotic zooxanthellae, but it at least shows that some species do have systems to withstand some of the effects of starvation. It would be interesting to know if your animals have absorbed their reproductive systems and gonads. It would give you an indication whether they are thriving or just surviving.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (May 2). Comment on Re: Update on Elysia crispata feeding by Lindsey Holm. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13687

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