Gastropoda

Crawl away from the light! Assessing behavioral and physiological photoprotective mechanisms in tropical solar-powered sea slugs exposed to natural light intensities

Abstract
Photosynthesizers face a trade-off regarding light: they need enough to maintain high photosynthetic rates, yet excess leads
to oxidative stress. Despite this, light and its detrimental effects are chronically underestimated. Solar-powered sea slugs
(Sacoglossa: Gastropoda) provide the ideal lens with which to study this trade-off, since they steal chloroplasts from algae
but do not inherit photoacclimation and photorepair capacities. We collected three slug species in Curaçao during March
and December 2022, comparing the amount of light they received in nature to their optimal light intensities for photosynthesis,
and their preferred light intensities. We then investigated behavioral and physiological photoprotection mechanisms
to determine if and how they limit light. Finally, we examined oxidative activity under optimal and excess light. All three
species were naturally exposed to more light (> 1000 μmol m−2 s−1) than is optimal or preferred. Elysia crispata (kleptoplast
retention for > 3 months) is fully exposed to light in nature but reduces the light reaching its kleptoplasts via parapodial
shading. Elysia velutinus retains kleptoplasts for ~ 2 weeks and hides in its macroalgal food, limiting light exposure. Both
species displayed low amounts of oxidative activity under optimal light, which increased slightly under excess light. Elysia
ornata retained chloroplasts for ~ 3 days, lacked observable photoprotection and always displayed high levels of oxidative
activity, potentially explaining its limited capacity for kleptoplast retention. Furthermore, both E. velutinus and E. ornata
display strong light-avoidance behaviors. This study clearly demonstrates links between high light intensities, photoprotection,
and oxidative stress, highlighting the need for future studies that examine aquatic photosynthesizers under natural lighting.

Date
2024
Data type
Scientific article
Theme
Research and monitoring
Journal
Geographic location
Curacao

Resource Partitioning by Corallivorous Snails on Bonaire (Southern Caribbean)

Abstract: A biodiversity survey on three corallivorous snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda) was performed at 28 sites around the island of Bonaire to assess their distribution patterns and associated host corals. The snails and their hosts were identified and counted in three depth zones: 5–10, 10–20, and 20–30 m. The snails were Coralliophila galea and C. salebrosa (Muricidae: Coralliophilinae), and Cyphoma gibbosum (Ovulidae: Simniinae). All three species were widespread around the island without apparent interspecific geographical variation. Coralliophila galea was found exclusively on scleractinian corals, Coralliophila salebrosa almost exclusively on octocorals, and Cyphoma gibbosum only on octocorals. Coralliophila salebrosa showed more dietary overlap with Cyphoma gibbosum than with Coralliophila galea. Coralliophila galea was the most commonly encountered species with the largest number of host species. Owing to its hosts distribution, this species also showed a greater maximum depth and a wider bathymetrical range than the other two snails. The other two snails were shallower and their depth ranges did not differ significantly. Host-coral size did not seem to have influence on the number of snails per host. Coral damage caused by the snails was visible but appeared to be low, causing no mortality in Bonaire, which suggests that the relation with their hosts is more parasitic than predatory. Because these three corallivores have occasionally been reported to occur as outbreaks in other Caribbean localities and may act as vectors in the dispersal of coral diseases, it is recommended that future studies should focus on their population dynamics.

Date
2022
Data type
Scientific article
Theme
Research and monitoring
Journal
Geographic location
Bonaire

Marine gastropods from the ABC islands and other localities 14. The family Terebridae with the description of a new species from Aruba (Gastropoda: Terebridae)

The species of the family Terebridae occurring at the Dutch Leeward Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao), and other parts of the tropical western Atlantic are reviewed on the basis of material in the Zoölogisch Museum, Amsterdam. A new species is described from Aruba. Terebra leptaxis Simone, 1999 is considered a junior synonym of T. doellojuradoi Carcelles, 1953. 

Date
2007
Data type
Scientific article
Theme
Research and monitoring
Geographic location
Aruba
Bonaire
Curacao
Author