We use the anemone Exaiptasia diaphana as a model system for studying symbiosis on reefs. These anemones are ideal for laboratory work because they are hardy, grow quickly, and can form a symbiosis with multiple types of algae. My current research uses them to study the effects of comined ocean acidification and temperature on symbiotic cnidarians as well as the response of different symbiotic relationships to thermal stress.
We used a flow through aquarium system to test the effects of combined ocean acidification and elevated temperature on multiple generations of anemones.
This will be relevant to predict how anemones and other soft bodied cnidarians will respond to climate change over ecologically relevant timescales.
Exaiptasia anemones can have their algae removed and replaced with a different species so that we can study the effects of different algae on the symbiotic relationship.
Here, each bowl contains anemones symbiotic with a different strain of the symbiont Breviolum minutum
We conduct temperature stress experiments to examine how anemones with different algal symbionts will respond to future climate change conditions.
Here anemones are in a temperature controlled incubator undergoing a thermal stress. We measure response variable including the photochemistry of the symbiont, respiration of the animal, and the exchange of fixed carbon between the two partners.
University of Delaware
Lewes Campus
700 Pilottown Road
Lewes, DE 19958 USA
Email: tbateman@udel.edu
Phone: +1 (862-596-4264)