Chloroplasts in the 'lettuce leaf nudibranch'

October 8, 2001
From: Caroline Nelson

Hello,
I am a Junior at Salem College in North Carolina, USA. I am doing a proposal, and hopefully research, on the chloroplasts in the Tridachia crispata which can be found specifically on the west coast of Barbados. I have done research in Barbados before and the team I was with found that some of the inhabitants of the reef had changed their diet (still being researched). Everywhere there was a Lettuce Sea Slug it was not found near it's food sources. My question is how long can the sea slug go without eating its base diet, and surviving off of the nutrients provided by the chloroplasts that are still functional? How long do the cholorplasts survive in the sea slug? What exactly are they providing the sea slug? Is there an easy way to test the sea slug to prove that it is in fact using the chloroplasts? ... I have several answers to these questions at the moment but wanted your opinion as well.
Thank you,
Caroline.

nelsoc3@salem.edu

Nelson, C., 2001 (Oct 8) Chloroplasts in the 'lettuce leaf nudibranch' . [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5398

Dear Caroline,
If you are planning to do some research I guess the first step is to have a look at some of the published research on the topic. But firstly, a few words about its name. You will find it called Tridachia crispata but it at present that genus is considered to be an unnnecessary subdivision of the genus Elysia. There are various common names, such as 'Lettuce Sea Slug' but they are confusing. Why not use the scientifc name? Also you call it the 'Lettuce Leaf Nudibranch' which is a new version of the common name. Although a sea slug (Opisthobranch) it is not a nudibranch but a member of another opisthobranch suborder - the Sacoglossa.

Now to the topic of chloroplast symbiosis. If you look at the top of the Elysia crispata Page you will find a few basic references. Have a look at the Solar-powered Sea Slugs Page for some general information on the topic and also the Page dealing specifically with chloroplast references. Many of the topics you raise have already been discussed on this page so have a look at the other messages about Elysia crispata, in particular my comments on Alan Pittman"s message. There are also many relevant messages on the Elysia chlorotica Page.
Good luck in your studies,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Oct 8). Comment on Chloroplasts in the 'lettuce leaf nudibranch' by Caroline Nelson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5398

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