Carbon Metabolism in the Anemonia viridis Symbiosis

This study was undertaken to investigate some aspects of carbon metabolism in the temperate symbiotic sea anemone Anemonia viridis (Forskal). In particular, questions were asked about the nutritional interactions between the algal symbionts and host, and how these affect the lipid stores. Further questions addressed the quantitative importance of the carbon which is fixed in photosynthesis and translocated to the host. Are anemones potentially autotrophic with respect to carbon? Anemonia viridis contained about 11% lipid on a dry weight basis when maintained at light levels of about 10muE m-2 s-1 and a temperature of 1