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Kleptoplastic sacoglossan species have very different capacities for plastid maintenance despite utilizing the same algal donors

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Abstract

The sea slug Elysia clarki sequesters photosynthetically functional chloroplasts from at least a dozen algal species and maintains these plastids for up to 4 months. Elysia papillosa and Placida kingstoni also feed on some of the same, or congeneric species such as Bryopsis plumosa and Penicillus lamourouxii, but cannot maintain plastids longer than 2 weeks. Photosystem II maximum quantum efficiency (ϕIIe-max) was measured in freshly fed specimens of E. clarki, E. papillosa, and P. kingstoni using pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorescence. The slugs were then immediately starved, and PAM fluorescence measurements continued with starvation until ϕIIe-max reached near 0 or animals expired. Initially, E. clarki fed either P. lamourouxii or B. plumosa had ϕIIe-max values that were statistically equivalent. However, as length of starvation increased, ϕIIe-max decreased differently. After 12 weeks, E. clarki fed B. plumosa had no ϕIIe-max activity, while those fed P. lamourouxii still had low ϕIIe-max levels. Freshly fed E. papillosa had ϕIIe-max > 0.5 initially, which declined over the next 12 days of starvation. Freshly fed P. kingstoni specimens also had ϕIIe-max > 0.5 immediately, but it rapidly dropped to near 0 over the next 4 h of starvation. Thus, the algal source of sequestered chloroplasts in E. clarki has a minor effect on chloroplast longevity and ϕIIe-max values during prolonged starvation. However, among slug species, specific adaptations account for the tremendous variation in the length and functionality of these kleptoplastic associations.

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Notes

  1. We have previously reported (Curtis et al. 2010) the identity of Florida specimens of Elysia feeding on Penicillus capitatus as E. patina following the description of Ortea et al. (2005), which has been called to our attention is unfortunately incorrect. Patrick Krug (personal communication), and our own SEM examination (W. Gowacki, personal communication), have found that the radula tooth of our specimens matches that of E. papillosa (Verrill 1901) Marcus 1957, rather than the distinctly different tooth of E. patina Ev. Marcus 1980. Our specimens used here and previously ( Curtis 2010) are E. papillosa and the Ortea et al. (2005) description of E. patina is actually E. papillosa and should not be followed.

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Acknowledgments

Specimens were collected under permits issued to SKP by the state of Florida (SAL 05SR-616). This work was supported by the contributions of a private donor who wishes to remain anonymous. The donor had no involvement in the conception, design, execution, or analysis of this study, or in the writing and publication of this report.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA

    N. E. Curtis, M. L. Middlebrooks, J. A. Schwartz & S. K. Pierce

  2. Ave Maria University, 5050 Ave Maria Blvd, Ave Maria, FL, 34142, USA

    N. E. Curtis

  3. University of Tampa, 401 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL, 33606, USA

    M. L. Middlebrooks

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  1. N. E. Curtis
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Correspondence to N. E. Curtis.

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Curtis, N.E., Middlebrooks, M.L., Schwartz, J.A. et al. Kleptoplastic sacoglossan species have very different capacities for plastid maintenance despite utilizing the same algal donors. Symbiosis 65, 23–31 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-015-0317-3

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