BIOB34H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Hydrogen Sulfide, Trophosome, Marine Worm
Document Summary
This one is getting organic materials made from microbes housed within the animal"s body (in exchange for protection). They appear green because these things contain an algal species. Since they can do photosynthesis, they can make their own food, which they share with the entire coral. The coral uses it as an energy source and as building blocks. The corals in return gives the algae protection. Since photosynthesis needs light, the algae symbionts make food during the day. Meaning that microbial synthesis happens during the day. The white portion of the coral contains calcium carbonate. The skeleton of the coral is made of this compound. The lack of green in the white spot indicates that there is no algae symbionts. So the question is, how exactly do they eat without the algal species. The reason is because the coral doesn"t always depend on microbial symbiosis, but they can also do bulk feeding.
