Sea anemones have a backup strategy when food is difficult to find: their symbiotic relationship with tiny algae living under their skin.
New findings describe how anemones control this remarkable interaction. The discovery provides new insights into ways organisms form associations that make them more successful than if they lived by themselves.
Sea anemones typically feed on mussels, shrimp, squid, and other prey, but if this food isn’t available, they can obtain sugar from the photosynthesizing algae that live inside them. In exchange, the algae receive the nitrogen they need from the sea anemones. However, there is a potential downside to the relationship, because the anemones suffer if the algae become too numerous.
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