Aeolidiella stephanieae - zooxanthella for orientation?

December 11, 2007
From: Dene Banger

We are a Canadian commercial aquaculture company breeding the nudibranch Aeolidella stephanieae for the aquarium trade (well known as  Berghia verrucicornis in the industry). Upon careful observation of their behaviour, feeding patterns, mating patterns etc., we are beginning to think that the retention of zooxanthella in the central digestive glands or cerata may be used for orientation. For example, increased or high stimulation of the zooxanthella in the cerata by light would indicate to the nudibranch that it is a) "right-side" up
or
b) that it is traveling along the top side of a physical object.

Likewise, less stimulation would indicate that the nudibranch was either inverted or travelling on the underside of an object.

I have read Steve Kempf's suggestion concerning solar-powered sea slugs and believe that there is some merit to a theory of, zooxanthella for orientation.

Incidently, we designed our breeding/hatching tanks along this idea and have documented six pairs of adults consistently laying 70 eggs strings in a 10 day period (approx. 6.8-7.2 strings per day). Certainly, well above most reports of an eggstring every 4-7 days. Upon hatching we are witnessing several thousand larvae in our specialized hatchers.

We are wondering if there has been more work done on the function of zooxanthella in this organism, and would invite some thoughts around such.

Sincerely,
Dene Banger President
Sea Life Aquaculture Inc., Canada
http://coralscaping.com

dene@coralscaping.com

Banger, D.B., 2007 (Dec 11) Aeolidiella stephanieae - zooxanthella for orientation?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21292

Dear Dene,

It is certainly an interesting idea to suggest they have acquired zooxanthellae so they know which way is up, but one question you would need to ask is why every other mollusc without zooxanthellae finds their statocysts sufficient for the task. A number of other animal groups have developed similar symbioses with zooxanthellae, such as the reef-forming corals, and it seems those without zooxanthellae seem able to grow 'upwards' without the assistance of zooxanthellae.

I am not sure what you mean when you say you have designed your breeding/hatching tanks in accord with this idea. If you mean you have done everything to maximise photosynthesis for the zooxanthellae I assume that will keep the adult nudibranchs in good condition because a healthy stock of zooxanthellae in their tissues is just what the nudibranch needs, as it takes sugars and other nutrients from the zooxanthellae for its own needs.

Have a look at the zooxanthellae in nudibranchs page and the solar-powered nudibranch page. They will give you some background information and links to more.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Dec 11). Comment on Aeolidiella stephanieae - zooxanthella for orientation? by Dene Banger. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21292

Factsheet

'Berghia verrucicornis' in aquaria

Related messages

  1. Re: Where to get 'Berghia verrucicornis'
    From: Adam Goehner, July 1, 2008
  2. 'Berghia Breeder'
    From: Ben Caruso, February 6, 2008
  3. Re: Aeolidiella stephanieae - zooxanthella for orientation?
    From: Dene Banger, December 14, 2007
  4. Berghia verrucicornis?
    From: Marshall Doud, August 2, 2007
  5. 'Berghia verrucicornis' - Captive Life Span
    From: Lisa Brown, March 14, 2006
  6. Re: Berghia verrucicornis to give away
    From: Yvonne Rozsenich, September 5, 2005
  7. Anemone eating slugs
    From: Carl Fario, August 20, 2005
  8. What is the real Berghia verrucicornis?
    From: Jimmy, March 25, 2004
  9. Berghia in aquarium
    From: John Mauro, Jr., January 3, 2003
  10. Berghia verrucicornis - where do I get it?
    From: Patrizia Bacci, October 18, 2002
  11. Berghia verrucicornis - Where?
    From: Mafalda N. Madeira, October 10, 2002
  12. Berghia sp. in south Atlantic coast
    From: Gustavo Duarte, September 14, 2002
  13. Aquarium Berghia photos
    From: Leslea, June 19, 2002
  14. Berghia Help Please
    From: Leslea, May 28, 2002
  15. Re: More information: fighting Aiptasia
    From: Phil C., May 10, 2002
  16. More information: fighting Aiptasia
    From: Vincent Prasil, May 6, 2002
  17. Aiptasia control in open water conditions
    From: Vincent Prasil, May 3, 2002
  18. Berghia verrucicornis - aquarium culture
    From: Steve Kempf, March 9, 2002
  19. Aiptasia - help please
    From: John D. Bessette, February 15, 2002
  20. Re: Desperate search for Berghia
    From: Juan Lucas Cervera, January 23, 2002
  21. Desperate search for Berghia
    From: Thierry Reynier, January 21, 2002
  22. Where to get Berghia verrucicornis
    From: Tom Kozicki, January 21, 2002
  23. Are all Berghias equal?
    From: David Fisher, December 6, 2001
  24. Say it isn't so! Is Berghia dangerous?
    From: David Fisher, November 12, 2001
  25. Berghia from seaslug-vs-aiptasia.ebz.com
    From: Carlo Bortolotti, September 7, 2001
  26. Buying Berghia verrucicornis &. Aiptasia
    From: Michael Bloss, June 18, 2001
  27. Berghia intelligence
    From: Yvonne Rozsenich , June 16, 2001
  28. Berghia verrucicornis to give away
    From: Yvonne Rozsenich, June 11, 2001
  29. Berghia verrucicornis for sale
    From: Luis Doallo, March 23, 2001
  30. The identity of Berghia verrucicornis
    From: Steven , March 3, 2001
  31. Keeping Berghia verrucicornis
    From: Yvonne Rozsenich, March 2, 2001
  32. Sea Spiders and Berghia
    From: Carlos, January 24, 2001
  33. Pycnogonids and Berghia verrucicornis
    From: Jennifer Whitacre, January 19, 2001
  34. Berghia verrucicornis and other sea anemones?
    From: Thomas Ipsen, October 7, 2000
  35. Aiptasia problems
    From: Berndt Nollmeyer , June 7, 2000
  36. Buying Berghia verrucicornis
    From: Bryan Schroeder, February 26, 2000
  37. Aquaculture of Berghia verrucicornis
    From: Gary J. Robinson, February 14, 2000
  38. Removing Aiptasia from reef tanks
    From: Peter Myers, February 7, 2000
  39. Berghia verrucicornis for sale
    From: Joey Berkley , January 7, 2000
  40. Spurilla australis
    From: Michael Phan, December 24, 1999
  41. Looking to buy a nudibranch...
    From: Carrie Clark, December 17, 1999
  42. Re: Berghia verrucicornis v. Aiptasia
    From: Michele Brown , October 1, 1999
  43. Berghia verrucicornis versus Aiptasia
    From: Dave Behrens, September 23, 1999
  44. Aiptasia-eating nudibranchs
    From: Ara Vaporciyan, August 31, 1999
  45. The Aiptasia problem revisited
    From: Anthony Donovan, August 21, 1999
  46. Re: Berghia verrucicornis
    From: Karen, July 16, 1999
  47. Where can I get Berghia verrucicornis?
    From: David, June 20, 1999
  48. Can I get Berghia in Europe?
    From: Ward Spruyt, February 24, 1999
  49. Where do I buy Berghia verrucicornis?
    From: Gary Swanberg, October 19, 1998
  50. Aiptasia eating nudibranch
    From: LEE , August 15, 1998
  51. Info about Berghia verrucicornis
    From: Michael Phan, July 2, 1998

Show factsheet and all related messages