The Ecological Importance of Toxicity: Sea Anemones Maintain Toxic Defence When Bleached.

ABSTRACT: Cnidarians are amongst the most venomous animals on the planet. They are also under significant threat due to the impacts of climate change. Corals and anemones undergo climate-induced bleaching during extreme environmental conditions, where a loss of symbiotic photosynthetic algae (zooxanthellae) causes whitening in colour, loss of internal food supply, and reduction in health, which can ultimately lead to death. What has yet to be determined is whether bleaching causes a reduction in the production or quality of venom. In this study, the sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor was exposed to long-term light-induced bleaching to examine the effect that bleaching has on venom. Venom quality and quantity, as determined through lethality and haemolysis measures and nematocyst production was highly

SUBMITTER: Hoepner CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6563229 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature