Diurnal lipid and mucus production in the staghorn coral Acropora acuminata

摘要: Net 14C-accumulation into lipids of Acropora acuminata was rapid and increased with light intensity. Dark 14C-incorporation less than 1% noon maximum. Structural were the first radioactively labelled lipid types showing linear 14C-uptake kinetics. Storage showed non-linear, power-curve kinetics for 14C-uptake. The rate triglycerides wax esters maximal during early afternoon at midday, respectively. Electron microscopic evidence is given zooxanthellae being primary sites synthesis which are exuded from chloroplasts transferred to animal tissues. Free droplets crystalline inclusions (wax ester) common in tissues, often associated mucus-producing cells. diurnal mucus production constant. However, 14C-mucus-lipid a light-dependent pattern accounted 60 90% total 14C periods photosynthetically-saturating light. Here, primarily always present mucus-lipid. 14C-triglycerides occur released only day. Lipid discussed relation carbon budget A. acuminata, represented loss 40% net C fixation.