Phyllodesmium poindimiei
| Phyllodesmium poindimiei | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Suborder: | Cladobranchia |
| Family: | Myrrhinidae |
| Genus: | Phyllodesmium |
| Species: | P. poindimiei
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| Binomial name | |
| Phyllodesmium poindimiei | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Phyllodesmium poindimiei (AKA: Spun Of Light) is a species of aeolid nudibranch Gastropod belonging to the family Facelinidae that feeds on Alcyonacea.[3] Cerata are important for its physical defense and efficient metabolic processes, but unlike other species in the Opisthobranch Mollusca clade, P. poindimiei’s pink cerata are used for defensive purposes other than Nematocyst (dinoflagellate) capture and toxin release.[4] This species is spread sporadically along tropical coastal regions such as Australia, Hawaii, and the Indo-Pacific living in diverse marine habitats such as coral reefs.[5]
Evolution and description
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P. poindimiei is about 50 mm at its longest.[6] P. poindimiei typically has two pairs of tentacles with a built in olfactory system containing an eye at each base. The soft shell-less slug has cerata outgrowths on its upper side filled with the organism’s respiratory and digestive systems which can be cast off for protective purposes.[5] Cerata for most Phyllodesmium contain cnidosacs at the tips to digest and repurpose nematocysts from Cnidarian prey, such as jellyfish or corals.[7] P. poindimiei lack these cnidosacs that could be used for its own defense against predators, such as the swimming crab Thalamita integer.[5] Another modification this species lacks is the ability to accumulate zooxanthellae, microscopic photosynthetic dinoflagellates, in its cerata.[8] The non-symbiotic species such as P. poindimiei were thought to have evolved earlier than nudibranchs with such developments.[9]
Diet and growth
[edit]P. poindimiei live up to twelve months and develop from an egg to a free-swimming veliger larva. They feed on Telesto, Caridoa, and other Alcyonaceans with very small radula.[8] Sponges can act as epibionts or ectozoans on organisms such as Octocorallia[10] and prevent P. poindimiei from consuming them, which can be problematic for these picky eaters.
Ecology and conservation
[edit]P. poindimiei tends to live in coral reefs. Many of the tropical locations where P. poindimiei resides are climate change research biotopes.[11] Environment change is effectively studied using these animals because of their short life span and revival linkage to habitats sensitive to oceanic temperature change and coral bleaching.[12][13] Most species of Phyllodesmium are found along the coastline of Australia, Hawaii, and the Indo-Pacific regions.[5] Coastal channels and estuaries allow for ample shelter.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ Risbec J. (1928). "Contribution á l'étude des nudibranches Néo-Calédoniens". Faune Colon. Fr. 2: 1-328.
- ^ Bouchet, P. (2015). Phyllodesmium poindimiei. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-10-07
- ^ Wägele H., Klussmann-Kolb A. (2005). "Opisthobranchia (Mollusca, Gastropoda) – more than just slimy slugs. Shell reduction and its implications on defence and foraging". Frontiers in Zoology. 2 (1). BioMed Central Ltd.: 3. doi:10.1186/1742-9994-2-3. PMC 554092. PMID 15715915.
- ^ Wiggle H., & Klussmann-Kolb A. (2005). "Opisthobranchia (Mollusca, Gastropoda) – more than just slimy slugs. Shell reduction and its implications on defence and foraging". Frontiers in Zoology. 2 (1): 3. doi:10.1186/1742-9994-2-3. PMC 554092. PMID 15715915.
- ^ a b c d Wagner, Daniel; Kahng, Samuel E.; Toonen, Robert J. (2009). "Observations on the life history and feeding ecology of a specialized nudibranch predator (Phyllodesmium poindimiei), with implications for biocontrol of an invasive octocoral (Carijoa riisei) in Hawaii". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 372 (1–2): 64–74. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2009.02.007.
- ^ Risbec, J (1928). Contribution á l'étude des nudibranches Néo-Calédoniens. Société d'éditions géographiques, maritimes et coloniales. Paris.
{{cite book}}:|website=ignored (help) - ^ Greenwood, Paul G. (March 6, 2009). "Acquisition and Use of Nematocysts by Cnidarian Predators". Toxicon. 54 (8): 1065–1070. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2009.02.029. PMC 2783962. PMID 19269306.
- ^ a b Rudman W.B. (June 28, 2008). "The anatomy and biology of alcyonarian-feeding aeolid opisthobranch mollusks and their development of symbiosis with zooxanthellae". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 72 (3): 219–262. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1981.tb01571.x.
- ^ Moore, Elizabeth J.; Gosliner, Terrence M. (2011). "Molecular phylogeny and evolution of symbiosis in a clade of Indopacific nudibranchs". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 58 (1): 116–123. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2010.11.008. PMID 21094687.
- ^ Rützler, Klaus (March 15, 1970). "Spatial competition among porifera: Solution by epizoism". Oecologia. 5 (2): 85–95. Bibcode:1970Oecol...5...85R. doi:10.1007/BF00347624. PMID 28310351. S2CID 20608604.
- ^ a b Willan, R. C.; Dollimore, J. M.; Nicholson, Jon (1979). "A survey of fish populations at Karikari Peninsula, Northland, by scuba diving". New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 13 (3): 447–458. doi:10.1080/00288330.1979.9515822.
- ^ Goulet, T.L. (September 8, 2006). "Most corals may not change their symbionts". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 321: 1–7. Bibcode:2006MEPS..321....1G. doi:10.3354/meps321001.
- ^ Beesley, P. L.; Ross, G. J.; Wells, A., eds. (1998). Mollusca: the southern synthesis. CSIRO.
External links
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- Photos of Phyllodesmium poindimiei in the Sealife Collection