Aiptasia Anemone Research Paper

While the name Aiptasia may mean “Beautiful”, Aiptasia pallida are an invasive sea anemone when it comes to saltwater fish tanks, but in the ocean, they are an important biological factor. Aiptasia come from the Class Anthozoa, and are commonly known as Glass, Rock, Tube, or Glass Rose anemones. They received their common name because they are semi-transparent (translucent) (Aiptasia Anemone). While much of this species of anemone are translucent, others are light brown or tan due to their symbiotic relationship they have with zooxanthellae. The zooxanthellae provide the Aiptasia with nutrients and energy (Foster and Smith). Aiptasia are one of the smaller species of anemones, they can grow up to five cm tall, though many are smaller (around
They can be found living on the roots of mangrove trees, corals, and rocks (Kaplan, 1982). Aiptasia can live in a wide range of salinities, temperatures, and other water quality conditions. When kept in saltwater aquariums they need live rocks or other solid material to attach to. They can survive in any type of lighting, but will thrive in bright light. Also, Aiptasia can be kept in any type of water current, except for stagnant water (Animal-World). Aiptasia can rapidly take over a tank due to their asexual reproduction known as pedal laceration. This is when small parts of the anemone break off or are broken off and colonize elsewhere in the tank (Foster and
The zooxanthellae provide photosynthetic energy, and the host provides protection (Muscatine and Porter, 1977). Since Aiptasia contain and depend on zooxanthellae for nutrients, Aiptasia has contributed to the understanding of coral bleaching. In a study by Wissmann (2003), he was testing what effects elevated ultraviolet B radiation and/or elevated temperature would have on the loss of zooxanthellae from Aiptasia pallida. He found that anemones expelled a greater number of zooxanthellae when exposed to elevated levels of UVB radiation and water temperature. Few other studies have been done to examine how light and temperature affect this symbiotic relationship (Goulet, Cook, and Goulet,