Contents of ultraviolet-absorbing substances in two color morphs of the photosymbiotic ascidian Didemnum molle |
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Authors: | Shuichi Hirabayashi Fumie Kasai Makoto M Watanabe Euichi Hirose |
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Institution: | (1) Environmental Biology Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan;(2) Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan |
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Abstract: | The contents of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) were compared in the two color morphs (dark-gray and brown colonies) of
the tropical ascidian Didemnum molle (Herdman, 1886), which harbors the photosymbiotic prokaryote Prochloron. The colonies of each color morph were exclusively distributed in shallow reef lagoons at the different sites. Spectroscopic
and chromatographic analyses showed that the Prochloron cell density and MAA concentration in the dark-gray colonies were an estimated 1.4 and 2.4 times higher, respectively, than
in the brown colonies. The significant difference in MAA contents between the color morphs was primarily due to the difference
in shinorine contents (p < 0.01, Mann–Whitney U-test). The high concentration of MAAs in the dark-gray colonies may provide better conditions for Prochloron cells, compared to the brown colonies with lower MAA concentrations. |
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Keywords: | colonial ascidian Prochloron coral reef light protection mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) color morph |
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