Ratio of Energy and Nutrient Fluxes Regulates Symbiosis between Zooxanthellae and Corals

Abstract

Ambient irradiance levels determine the rate of carbon influx into zooxanthellae at any given time, and thereby the energy available for the whole coral symbiotic association. Long-term photoacclimation of zooxanthellae to the time-averaged light regime at which the host coral grows results in optimization of light harvesting and utilization. Under high irradiance light harvesting is reduced, thereby avoiding photodynamic damage, whereas under low light, photon capture and quantum yield are maximized. Most of the photosynthate produced by the algae is respired. However, the capability of the zooxanthellae and the coral to retain carbon beyond that required to meet their respiratory needs depends on the availability of the commonly limiting nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus. Therefore, the ratio of the flux of these nutrients into the colony to that of the photosynthetically driven carbon flux will regulate the growth of the zooxanthellae and of the animal. Nutrients acquired by predation of the coral on zooplankton are available first to the animal, whereas those absorbed by the zooxanthellae from seawater as inorganic compounds lead first to growth of the algae.