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Full-Text Articles in Animal Sciences
Intracellular Invasion Of Green Algae In A Salamander Host, Ryan Kerney, Eunsoo Kim, Roger Hangater, Aaron Heiss, Cory Bishop, Brian Hall
Intracellular Invasion Of Green Algae In A Salamander Host, Ryan Kerney, Eunsoo Kim, Roger Hangater, Aaron Heiss, Cory Bishop, Brian Hall
Ryan Kerney
The association between embryos of the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) and green algae (“Oophila amblystomatis” Lamber ex Printz) has been considered an ectosymbiotic mutualism. We show here, however, that this symbiosis is more intimate than previously reported. A combination of imaging and algal 18S rDNA amplification reveals algal invasion of embryonic salamander tissues and cells during development. Algal cells are detectable from embryonic and larval Stages 26–44 through chlorophyll autofluorescence and algal 18S rDNA amplification. Algal cell ultrastructure indicates both degradation and putative encystment during the process of tissue and cellular invasion. Fewer algal cells were detected in later-stage larvae …
Symbioses Between Salamander Embryos And Green Algae, Ryan Kerney
Symbioses Between Salamander Embryos And Green Algae, Ryan Kerney
Ryan Kerney
The symbiosis between Ambystoma maculatum (spotted salamander) embryos and green algae was initially described over 120 years ago. Algae populate the egg capsules that surround individual A. maculatum embryos, giving the intracapsular fluid a characteristic green hue. Early work established this symbiosis to be a mutualism, while subsequent studies sought to identify the material benefits of this association to both symbiont and host. These studies have shown that salamander embryos benefit from increased oxygen concentrations provided by their symbiotic algae. The algae, in turn, may benefit from ammonia excreted by the embryos. All of these early studies considered the associ- …