zooxanthellae

(noun)

animals of the genus Symbiodinium, a yellow dinoflagellate, notably found in coral reefs

Related Terms

  • photic
  • desiccation

Examples of zooxanthellae in the following topics:

  • Class Anthozoa

    • These hermatypic corals rely on a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae.
    • The coral gains photosynthetic capability, while the zooxanthellae benefit by using nitrogenous waste and carbon dioxide produced by the cnidarian host.
  • Protists as Primary Producers, Food Sources, and Symbionts

    • For instance, photosynthetic dinoflagellates called zooxanthellae use sunlight to fix inorganic carbon.
  • Marine Biomes

    • When bleaching occurs, the reefs lose much of their characteristic color as the algae and the coral animals die if loss of the symbiotic zooxanthellae is prolonged.
  • The Role of Species within Communities

    • Corals themselves are not photosynthetic, but harbor symbionts within their body tissues (dinoflagellates called zooxanthellae) that perform photosynthesis; this is another example of a mutualism.
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