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Solar-Powered Nudibranchs

Research Scientist: Dr Bill Rudman

Plants, in general, differ from animals in being able to directly convert the sun's energy into food through a chemical process called photosynthesis. In tropical waters corals, soft-corals and related colonial animals, have evolved means of farming microscopic algae (zooxanthellae) in their bodies to take advantage of this readily available source of food.

Some remarkable sea-slugs eat the corals and soft-corals, and remove the plants intact. They then `farm' the zooxanthellae in their own bodies, taking sugars produced by the plants for themselves. Some are so efficient that they seldom need to feed. Research comparing the anatomy of different species of nudibranch, shows how they have evolved the ability to keep the delicate single-celled plants alive and healthy.

Zooxanthellae gardens

Pteraeolidia

Publications from this reseach

1. Rudman, W.B. (1981a) Further studies on the anatomy and ecology of opisthobranch molluscs feeding on the scleractinian coral Porites. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 71: 373-412.
   
2. Rudman, W.B. (1981b) The anatomy and biology of alcyonarian feeding aeolid opisthobranch molluscs and their development of symbiosis with zooxanthellae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 72: 219-262.
   
3. Rudman, W.B. (1981c) Polyp mimicry in a new species of aeolid nudibranch mollusc. Journal of Zoology, London, 193: 421-427.
   
4. Rudman, W.B. (1982a) The taxonomy and biology of further aeolidacean and arminacean nudibranch molluscs with symbiotic zooxanthellae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 74: 147-196.
   
5. Rudman, W.B. (1982b) A new species of Phestilla; the first record of a corallivorous aeolid nudibranch from tropical America. Journal of Zoology, London, 198: 465-471.
   
6. Rudman, W.B. (1986c) Nudibranchs: Nature's thieves. Australian Natural History 22(1): 2-6.
   
7. Rudman, W.B. (1987c) Solar-powered Animals. Natural History 96(10): 50-53.
   
8. Rudman, W.B. (1991) Further studies on the taxonomy and biology of the octocoral-feeding genus Phyllodesmium Ehrenberg, 1831 (Nudibranchia: Aeolidoidea). Journal of Molluscan Studies, 57(2): 167-203.

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