Alternative food source for Corallimorpharians
 

I have read from a site (not sure if it's ok to put a link in here) that Discosoma corallimorphs do absorb dissolved nutrients from the water. Another site mentioned that corallimorphs also receive nutrition through photosynthetic/chemosynthetic activity.

From Wikipedia... Chemosynthesis is the biological conversion of 1 or more carbon molecules (usually carbon dioxide or methane) and nutrients into organic matter using the oxidation of inorganic molecules (e.g. hydrogen gas, hydrogen sulfide) or methane as a source of energy, rather than sunlight, as in photosynthesis.


Couple of questions...

In regards to the ability of absorbing dissolved nutrients from the water, does it applicable to ricordia species also?

In regards to chemosynthesis, do corallimorpharians use this when they dont get enough energy from light (natural or artificial lighting)?


Thanks a lot!

1. Yes, although rics will also actively consume food (and Rhodactis will very aggressively consume food).

2. I'm not sure. Sometimes a person will find a corallimorpharian living in a completely dark spot -- all the ones I've found like this are apparently azooxanthellate, so they are either getting energy from absorption or chemosynthesis.

Many thanks for the info John.


Cheers!

Many Discosoma species will also accept small particles of food (mysis, fish & shrimp meat,...), especially larger specimens.