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Aiptasia Anemone Introduction
AIPTASIA BIOLOGY... INTRODUCTION: The Aiptasia anemone species of the world are amoung the most successful
animals on our planet. They continue to thrive even though there are many vertebrates and invertebrates that eat them
in the seas and coastal areas where they originate. Aiptasia anemones are so wide spread that they completely coat deep sea weather bouy anchor systems since there are no Aiptasia predators so far out in the deep oceans. They are important to us in laboratory experiments and cultures systems as
study animals and to feed aeolid nudibranchs. In public aquariums, breeding facilities for fish, sea horses and corals,
as well as private coral reef aquariums they can over come those tanks and harm or even kill everything nearby. They are extremely adaptable
to situations we would think would destroy them and even live through all forms of direct chemical applications or reproduce because of such
an application. Planula are released into the water column from stoma on the Aiptasia's column and basal cells released from the basal cell area at the foot during all attacks. There is only one exception and that is an attack of the only target specific natural predator of the Aiptasia, a Berghia nudibranch. There are numerous errors with information about these nudibranches as well as information errors about Aiptasia anemones due to the intertwined information of more than one species in almost all of the many publications relative to the aquarium interests as well as the scientific community. This intertwined mass of information encompasses many decades of historical publications and scientific journals. We are providing this web site to sort out this mass of very confusing information. We have all of it well documented and supported with facts that are reproducable and can be proven with accurate measurements and detailed scientific observations.
Aiptasia are normally dark brown to translucent brown anemones. The brown color comes from zooxanthellae, a golden brown symbiotic algae. Zooxanthellae exist in two forms inside the Aiptasia; Incorporated into a Vessicle called a Symbiosome and free in the circulating plasma within the Aiptasia.
Aiptasia are members of the phylum Cnidaria, and as characteristic of all Cnidaria contain stinging cells. These stinging cells, called cnidocytes, contain
a stinging mechanism, cnidae or nematocyst. The nematocysts of aiptasia have a toxin that is more potent than the majority of corals, also
members of this phylum. In previous articles the Aiptasia nematocyst is referred to as a single type. The Berghia nudibranch will be used to demonstrate that this is not correct. The Aiptasia is composed of more than a single type of nematocyst. Since they are so similar in structure to corals and are easily cultured, they can be used in many situations
to learn more of the world around us.
Aiptasia contain Serotonin, a protein that is also found in the human body. Study of this and other
marine life leads to cures for many different diseases. Knowing this and how to use an animal such as a nudibranch to harvest
and concentrate some parts of varying sea life often aids in the discovery of the cures or medications that help fight dreaded
diseases or develop effective vaccines. Perhaps you will be the one to study enough and put together the Aiptasia's serotonin, the nudibranch
harvesting techinique and critical information regarding Alzhiemer's Disease and develop a cure? The ability to extrapolate the
information for such victories can start with techniques learned in your basic and advanced science studies and classes.
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