Elysia chlorotica: Difference between revisions
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==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
<i>Elysia chlorotica</i> (or the eastern emerald elysia) is a type of sea slug that can do photosynthesis. <i>Elysia chlorotica</i> had been found in salt marshes and ponds off the coast of the eastern states and in Nova Scotia, Canada. | <i>Elysia chlorotica</i> (or the eastern emerald elysia) is a type of sea slug that can do photosynthesis. It is a marine Gastropoda species in Plankobranchidae family. <i>Elysia chlorotica</i> had been found in salt marshes and ponds off the coast of the eastern states and in Nova Scotia, Canada. | ||
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[[File:Elysia chlorotica stages.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Development stages of <i>Elysia chlorotica</i>]] | [[File:Elysia chlorotica stages.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Development stages of <i>Elysia chlorotica</i>]] | ||
<i>Elysia chlorotica</i> is small sized sea slug. The adult individual are around 3~5 centimeters long. An <i>Elysia chlorotica</i> has two stages of development: juvenile and adult stages, which can be distinguish by its morphology and coloring. During juvenile stage, newly hatched <I>E. chlorotica</I> are usually translucent brown, with few red spots on their bodies. This stage remains until the initial feeding on algae. The <I>E. chlorotica</I> obtains chloroplast from the algae, preserving in its special digestive tract. The presence of chloroplast gradually turns the body color into bright green, and lost red spots.Elysid refers to the adult slug’s leaf-like shape which is caused by two large lateral parapodia on either side of its body. This morphology is beneficial as both camouflage and allowing the slug to be more efficient at photosynthesis. Other members of this family are distinguished by their parapodia in addition to bright coloring. | <i>Elysia chlorotica</i> is small sized sea slug. It is bilaterally symmetrical like a real leaf. The adult individual are around 3~5 centimeters long. An <i>Elysia chlorotica</i> has two stages of development: juvenile and adult stages, which can be distinguish by its morphology and coloring. During juvenile stage, newly hatched <I>E. chlorotica</I> are usually translucent brown, with few red spots on their bodies. This stage remains until the initial feeding on algae. The <I>E. chlorotica</I> obtains chloroplast from the algae, preserving in its special digestive tract. The presence of chloroplast gradually turns the body color into bright green, and lost red spots.Elysid refers to the adult slug’s leaf-like shape which is caused by two large lateral parapodia on either side of its body. This morphology is beneficial as both camouflage and allowing the slug to be more efficient at photosynthesis. Other members of this family are distinguished by their parapodia in addition to bright coloring. | ||
==Kleptoplasty== | ==Kleptoplasty== | ||
Kleptoplasty is a special symbiosis behavior that the chloroplast uptake by algal prey can remain temporarily function in the organism, which allows an animal doing photosynthesis like plants. A typical species in the clade Sacoglass | Kleptoplasty is a special symbiosis behavior that the chloroplast uptake by algal prey can remain temporarily function in the organism, which allows an animal doing photosynthesis like plants. A typical species in the clade Sacoglass | ||
Revision as of 03:14, 5 December 2021
Introduction
Elysia chlorotica (or the eastern emerald elysia) is a type of sea slug that can do photosynthesis. It is a marine Gastropoda species in Plankobranchidae family. Elysia chlorotica had been found in salt marshes and ponds off the coast of the eastern states and in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Life cycle and Morphology
Elysia chlorotica is small sized sea slug. It is bilaterally symmetrical like a real leaf. The adult individual are around 3~5 centimeters long. An Elysia chlorotica has two stages of development: juvenile and adult stages, which can be distinguish by its morphology and coloring. During juvenile stage, newly hatched E. chlorotica are usually translucent brown, with few red spots on their bodies. This stage remains until the initial feeding on algae. The E. chlorotica obtains chloroplast from the algae, preserving in its special digestive tract. The presence of chloroplast gradually turns the body color into bright green, and lost red spots.Elysid refers to the adult slug’s leaf-like shape which is caused by two large lateral parapodia on either side of its body. This morphology is beneficial as both camouflage and allowing the slug to be more efficient at photosynthesis. Other members of this family are distinguished by their parapodia in addition to bright coloring.
Kleptoplasty
Kleptoplasty is a special symbiosis behavior that the chloroplast uptake by algal prey can remain temporarily function in the organism, which allows an animal doing photosynthesis like plants. A typical species in the clade Sacoglass
Feeding
Conclusion
References
Rumpho, M. E., J. M. Worful, J. Lee, K. Kannan, M. S. Tyler, D. Bhattacharya, A. Moustafa, and J. R. Manhart. 2008. “Horizontal Gene Transfer of the Algal Nuclear Gene PsbO to the Photosynthetic Sea Slug Elysia Chlorotica.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105 (46): 17867–71. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0804968105.
Edited by Hao Yang, student of Joan Slonczewski,2021,Kenyon College.
