biostudies-literatureVital XGFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)Fundação para a Ciência e a TecnologiaTexas A&M UniversityTexas A&M UniversityHarte Research InstituteUNITAS MALACOLOGICAUnitas MalacologicaConsejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaEuropean Research CouncilEuropean Union's Horizon 2020Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoHarte Charitable FoundationEuropean Union's Horizon 2020jeb251281https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12912266biostudies-literatureUnknown229(3)Photosynthetic sacoglossan sea slugs sequester the chloroplasts of the algae they feed upon and keep these organelles functional in the cells of their ramified digestive system. Whether the stolen chloroplasts - kleptoplasts - influence animal behavioural responses towards light is uncertain. To address this matter, we: (1) determined the light preferences of the photosynthetic sea slug Elysia crispata when offered different light spectra (450, 517, 520-650 and 665 nm) and intensities (60, 180, 425 and 1400 µmol photons m-2 s-1); and (2) established whether the light intensity preferences of E. crispata were different when fed algae acclimated to low (40 µmol photons m-2 s-1) and high irradiance (425 µmol photons m-2 s-1). Sea slugs were collected from a coral reef in the Gulf of Mexico anThe Journal of experimental biologyThe photoacclimation state of stolen chloroplasts affects the light preferences in the photosynthetic sea slug Elysia crispata.PMC12912266LA/P/0094/20205641489498802020.03278.CEECINDUID/50017/2025CEECIND/01434/2018Student Research Award 2020Cartaxana PCruz SMascaro MVital XGSimoes NfalseThe photoacclimation state of stolen chloroplasts affects the light preferences in the photosynthetic sea slug Elysia crispata.Photosynthetic sacoglossan sea slugs sequester the chloroplasts of the algae they feed upon and keep these organelles functional in the cells of their ramified digestive system. Whether the stolen chloroplasts - kleptoplasts - influence animal behavioural responses towards light is uncertain. To address this matter, we: (1) determined the light preferences of the photosynthetic sea slug Elysia crispata when offered different light spectra (450, 517, 520-650 and 665 nm) and intensities (60, 180, 425 and 1400 µmol photons m-2 s-1); and (2) established whether the light intensity preferences of E. crispata were different when fed algae acclimated to low (40 µmol photons m-2 s-1) and high irradiance (425 µmol photons m-2 s-1). Sea slugs were collected from a coral reef in the Gulf of Mexico an2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Feb2026-07-16T00:32:56.505Z2026-07-09T13:09:59.384ZS-EPMC129122664148067810.1242/jeb.251281