Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Relationship between specific dynamic action and food quality in the solitary ascidian Ciona intestinalis

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aims to determine the influence of the quality of food on specific dynamic action (SDA) in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis and thereby if respiratory measurements of SDA can be used to monitor the quality of a potential food source. Weight specific rates of filtration, ingestion and respiration of C. intestinalis were examined using two different experimental methods. Two food sources were selected, the flagellate Rhodomonas sp. representing a high-quality food source and the eelgrass Zostera marina representing a potentially low-quality food source. In spite of insignificant differences in weight specific rates of filtration and ingestion of Rhodomonas sp. and Z. marina, significant differences in weight specific respiration rates and weight specific ingestion rates of C. intestinalis at different particle concentrations of the two food sources were found. Ingestion of Rhodomonas sp. resulted in a SDA coefficient of 20%, whereas the respiratory increase after ingestion of Z. marina was insignificant. From the experimental results it is concluded that SDA of C. intestinalis is strongly dependent on the quality of the food ingested.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4. 
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alsop DH, Wood CM (1997) The interactive effects of feeding and exercise on oxygen consumption, swimming performance and protein usage in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). J Exp Biol 200:2337–2346

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barthel KG (1983) Food uptake and growth efficiency of Eurytemora affinis (Copepoda: Calanoida). Mar Biol 74:269–274

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayne BL, Scullard C (1977) An apparent specific dynamic action in Mytilus edulis L. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 57:371–378

    Google Scholar 

  • Beamish FWH (1974) Apparent specific dynamic action of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides. J Fish Res Bd Can 31:1763–1769

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown CR, Cameron JN (1991a) The induction of specific dynamic action in channel catfish by infusion of essential amino acids. Physiol Zool 64:276–297

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown CR, Cameron JN (1991b) The relationship between specific dynamic action (SDA) and protein synthesis rates in the channel catfish. Physiol Zool 64:298–309

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burggren WW, Moreira GS, Santos MCF (1993) Specific dynamic action and the metabolism of the brachyuran land crabs Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius, 1787), Goniopsis cruentata (Latreille, 1803) and Cardisoma guanhumi Latreille, 1825. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 169:117–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carefoot TH (1987) Diet and its effect on oxygen uptake in the sea hare Aplysia. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 114:275–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carefoot TH (1990a) Specific dynamic action (SDA) in the supralittoral isopod, Ligia pallasii: identification of components of apparent SDA and effects of dietary amino acid quality and content on SDA. Comp Biochem Physiol 95A: 309–316

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carefoot TH (1990b) Specific dynamic action (SDA) in the supralittoral isopod, Ligia pallasii: relationship of growth to SDA. Comp Biochem Physiol 95A: 553–557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carter CG, Brafield AE (1992) The relationship between specific dynamic action and growth in grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Val.). J Fish Biol 40:895–907

    Google Scholar 

  • Chakraborty SC, Ross LG, Ross B (1992) Specific dynamic action and feeding metabolism in common carp, Cyprinus carpio L. Comp Biochem Physiol 103A: 809–815

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duarte CM, Benavent E, Sánchez MC (1999) The microcosm of particles within seagrass Posidonia oceanica canopies. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 181:289–295

    Google Scholar 

  • Duggins DO, Eckman JE (1997) Is kelp detritus a good food for suspension feeders? Effects of kelp species, age and secondary metabolites. Mar Biol 128:489–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eriksen NT, Iversen JJL (1997) On-line determination of respiration rates of aquatic organisms in a mono-phase oxystat at steady-state dissolved oxygen tensions. Mar Biol 128:181–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flood PR, Fiala-Médioni A (1981) Ultrastructure and histochemistry of the food trapping mucous film in benthic filter-feeders (ascidians). Acta Zool 62:53–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney PM, Diehl WJ (1986) Growth, condition and specific dynamic action in the mussel Mytilus edulis recovering from starvation. Mar Biol 93:401–409

    Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt DR, Irwing MG (1990) Oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion of the brown tiger prawn Penaeus esculentus fed diets of varying protein content. Comp Biochem Physiol 96A: 373–378

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Houde SEL, Roman MR (1987) Effects of food quality on the functional ingestion response of the copepod Acartia tonsa. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 40:69–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Ikeda T, Dixon P (1984) The influence of feeding on the metabolic activity of antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana). Polar Biol 3:1-9

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeschke JM, Tollrian R (2000) Density-dependent effects of prey defences. Oecologia 123:391–396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jobling M (1983) Towards an explanation of specific dynamic action (SDA). J Fish Biol 23:549–555

    Google Scholar 

  • Jørgensen CB (1949) Feeding-rates of sponges, lamellibranchs and ascidians. Nature 163:912

    Google Scholar 

  • Jørgensen CB (1966) Biology of suspension feeding. Pergamon, London

  • Jørgensen CB, Kiørboe T, Møhlenberg F, Riisgård HU (1984) Ciliary and mucus-net filter feeding, with special reference to fluid mechanical characteristics. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 15:283–292

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiørboe T, Møhlenberg F, Nicolajsen H (1982) Ingestion rate and gut clearance in the planktonic copepod Centropages hamatus (Lilljeborg) in relation to food concentration and temperature. Ophelia 21:181–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiørboe T, Møhlenberg F, Hamburger K (1985) Bioenergetics of the planktonic copepod Acartia tonsa: relation between feeding, egg production and respiration, and composition of specific dynamic action. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 26:85–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Kowalke J (1999) Filtration in antarctic ascidians: striking a balance. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 242:233–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krebs HA (1964) The metabolic fate of amino acids. In: Munro HN, Allison JB (eds) Mammalian protein metabolism. Academic Press, New York, pp 125–176

  • Langdon CJ, Newell RIE (1990) Utilization of detritus and bacteria as food sources by two bivalve suspension-feeders, the oyster Crassostrea virginica and the mussel Geukensia demissa . Mar Ecol Prog Ser 58:299–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsden ID (1999) Respiration and feeding of the surf clam Paphies donacina from New Zealand. Hydrobiologia 405:179–188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monniot C, Monniot F, Laboute P (1991) Coral reef ascidians of the New Caledonia. Orstom, Paris

  • Møhlenberg F, Kiørboe T (1981) Growth and energetics in Spisula subtruncata (da Costa) and the effect of suspended bottom material. Ophelia 20:79–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Newell RIE, Langdon CJ (1986) Digestion and absorption of refractory carbon from the plant Spartina alterniflora by the oyster Crassostrea virginica. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 34:105–115

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen AM, Eriksen NT, Iversen JJL, Riisgård HU (1995) Feeding, growth and respiration in the polychaetes Nereis diversicolor (facultative filter-feeder) and N. virens (omnivorous): a comparative study. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 125:149–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen JK, Riisgård HU (1992) Filtration capacity of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis and its grazing impact in a shallow fjord. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 88:9-17

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen JK, Schou O, Thor P (1995) Growth and energetics in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 120:175–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen JK, Schou O, Thor P (1997) In situ growth of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis (L.) and the blue mussel Mytilus edulis in an eelgrass meadow. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 218:1-11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petersen JK, Mayer S, Knudsen MA (1999) Beat frequency of cilia in the branchial basket of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis in relation to temperature and algal cell concentration. Mar Biol 133:185–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Randløv A, Riisgård HU (1979) Efficiency of particle retention and filtration rate in four species of ascidians. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 1:55–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Robbins IJ (1983) The effects of body size, temperature, and suspension density on the filtration and ingestion of inorganic particulate suspensions by ascidians. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 70:65–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robbins IJ (1984) The regulation of ingestion rate, at high suspended particulate concentrations, by some phleobranchiate ascidians. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 82:1-10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross LG, McKinney RW, Cardwell SK, Fullarton JG, Roberts SEJ, Ross B (1992) The effects of dietary protein content, lipid content and ration level on oxygen consumption and specific dynamic action in Oreochromis niloticus L. Comp Biochem Physiol 103A: 573–578

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rubner M (1902) Die Gesetze des Energieverbrauchs bei der Ernährung. Frantz Deuticke, Leipzig

  • Shumway SE, Lesser MP, Crisp DJ (1993) Specific dynamic action demonstrated in the herbivorous marine periwinkles, Littorina littorea L. and Littorina obtusata L. (Mollusca, Gastropoda). Comp Biochem Physiol 106A: 391–395

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soofiani NM, Hawkins AD (1982) Energetic costs at different levels of feeding in juvenile cod, Gadus morhua L. J Fish Biol 21:577–592

    Google Scholar 

  • Steffensen JF (1989) Some errors in respirometry of aquatic breathers: how to avoid and correct for them. Fish Physiol Biochem 6:49–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Thor P (2000) Relationship between specific dynamic action and protein deposition in calanoid copepods. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 245:171–182

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thor P, Cervetto G, Besiktebe S, Ribera-Maycas E, Tang KW, Dam HG (2002) Influence of two different green algal diets on specific dynamic action and incorporation of carbon into biochemical fractions in the copepod Acartia tonsa. J Plankton Res 24:293–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Törnblom E, Søndergaard M (1999) Seasonal dynamics of bacterial biomass and production on eelgrass Zostera marina leaves. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 179:231–240

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO (1973) International oceanographic tables. Volume 2, National Institute of Oceanography of Great Britain and Unesco.

  • Vahl O (1984) The relationship between specific dynamic action (SDA) and growth in the common starfish, Asterias rubens L. Oecologia 61:122–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace JC (1973) Feeding, starvation and metabolic rate in the shore crab Carcinus maenas. Mar Biol 20:277–281

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams P (1981) Detritus utilization by Mytilus edulis. Estuarine Coastal Shelf Sci 12:739–746

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank P. Thor for technical assistance and critical reading of the manuscript, N.T. Eriksen for supply of algae and M.G. Larsen for CHN-analysis. The experiments were carried out at the University of Southern Denmark, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and at the National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Environmental Research Institute, Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box 358, 4000 , Roskilde, Denmark

    S. J. Sigsgaard & J. K. Petersen

  2. University of Southern Denmark, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark

    J. J. L. Iversen

Authors
  1. S. J. Sigsgaard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. K. Petersen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. J. L. Iversen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. K. Petersen.

Additional information

Communicated by L. Hagerman, Helsingør

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sigsgaard, S.J., Petersen, J.K. & Iversen, J.J.L. Relationship between specific dynamic action and food quality in the solitary ascidian Ciona intestinalis . Marine Biology 143, 1143–1149 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-003-1164-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-003-1164-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation