Ingestion and incorporation of cora mucus aggregates by a gorgonian soft coral

Abstract

Mucus produced by reef corals is a potential energy source for reef organisms. Ingestion and incorporation of mucus aggregates by the gorgonian soft coral Pseudoplexaura porosa was examined using stain and isotope techniques. P. porosa was fed mucus particles stained with neutral red. All ingested food was cleared from the gut in 3-4 h. Gorgonians fed 14C-labeled mucus for 10 min, ingested a mean of 0.91 .mu.g dry weight mucus mg-1 gorgonian, and incorporated 22% of the ingested mucus. The amount of mucus incorporated in these experiments is sufficient to meet the energy needs of P. porosa.