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
2.5 cm). Their body form is a polyp composed of a pedal disc, a long thin body column with nearly 100 tentacles of various lengths surrounding the oral disc, which is around one cm wide (Kaplan, 1982). Like all Cnidarians, the tentacles of Aiptasia contain nematocysts that can be used for both offensive and defensive purposes. Studies have shown that Aiptasia have a strong sting that can harm and even kill other corals and fish (Animal-World). Aiptasia can be found throughout the world, but they are mainly found along the entire coast of the United States (Kaplan, 1988), across the Gulf of Mexico, and throughout the Caribbean (Voss, 1976).
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
Smith). The symbiotic relationship between cnidarians and dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) is not only essential to the color of Aiptasia, but it is also important for coral reef systems.
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,
2005). In a study using Aiptasia pallida as a potential biological control agent for salt marsh mosquitoes, sea anemones were transferred to containers containing 100 (control), 75, 50, 25, and 0 % sea water. Anemones in the 100 and 75 % sea water were active, the ones in the 50 % were less active but no anemones died, and the ones in the 25 % and less died within 48 hours (Levy and Miller, 1979). In our study, we are testing the tolerance level of Aiptasia pallida. Our hypothesis is that the Aiptasia will adapt to living conditions that are similar to their control, and will die when placed in living conditions that are extremely different than their control.