Lack of association between color morphs of the Jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda and zooxanthella clade

摘要: Understanding the ecology and evolution of cnidarian-algal symbiosis is major scientific interest as it sensitive to temperature strong light may therefore be susceptible climate change. The stability this mutualism often mediated by host color pigments that influence photosynthetic activity in symbiotic dinoflagellates either providing photosystem with irradiance suitable wavelength or protecting from much too potentially damaging light. Like scleractinian corals, upside-down jellyfish, Cassiopea andromeda, relies heavily on nutrients provided its symbionts dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium. It occurs several conspicuously different morphs found habitats high levels irradiation. We tested whether were correlated Symbiodinium distribution was associated clades presence pigment did not correlate host. both colored tentacles jellyfish colorless feeding tentacles. At least six co-occurred very shallow waters Red Sea, but they all hosted a single clade (clade A1). Therefore, no correlation morph could found. Photoaccumulative photoprotective functions pigments, proposed for some thus seem unlikely (vesicles) andromeda.