Effect of Exogenous Nitrogen Levels on Ultrastructure of Zooxanthellae from the Hermatypic Coral Pocillopora damicornis

dc.contributor.author Berner, Tamar en_US
dc.contributor.author Izhaki, Ido en_US
dc.date.accessioned 2008-08-04T06:39:51Z
dc.date.available 2008-08-04T06:39:51Z
dc.date.issued 1994-07 en_US
dc.description.abstract Branches of the hermatypic coral Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus) were exposed for 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks to ammonium concentrations of < 1 uM (nutrient-stripped), 2 uM (seawater as a control), 20 uM, and 50 uM (enriched), after which their symbiotic zooxanthellae were examined for changes in their ultrastructure. No significant differences among treatments were detected in cell diameter or in relative volume of any of the cellular organelles of zooxanthellae subjected to the various nitrogen levels. The surface density of thylakoids was higher in cells from the elevated-nitrogen treatments. However, there was a significant increase in accumulation of starch grains and lipid droplets in zooxanthellae in corals maintained in unenriched and nutrient-stripped seawater, occupying about 15% of the cell volume. Storage of these N-free compounds showed that under N-limited conditions photosynthate cannot be used as carbon skeletons in synthesis of amino and nucleic acids, both required for cell doubling. We believe that our results further demonstrate the uncoupling of photosynthesis from population growth under C : N ratios deviating from those needed to support balanced growth. en_US
dc.identifier.citation Berner T, Izhaki I. 1994. Effect of exogenous nitrogen levels on ultrastructure of zooxanthellae from the hermatypic coral Pocillopora damicornis. Pac Sci 48(3): 254-262. en_US
dc.identifier.issn 0030-8870 en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/10125/2234
dc.language.iso en-US en_US
dc.publisher University of Hawaii Press en_US
dc.title Effect of Exogenous Nitrogen Levels on Ultrastructure of Zooxanthellae from the Hermatypic Coral Pocillopora damicornis en_US
dc.type Article en_US
dc.type.dcmi Text en_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
v48n3-254-262.pdf
Size:
4.19 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: