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Biol Bull 159: 117-134. (August 1980)
© 1980 Marine Biological Laboratory
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INTERSPECIFIC AND INTRASPECIFIC ACRORHAGIAL AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR AMONG SEA ANEMONES: A RECOGNITION OF SELF AND NOT-SELF

CHARLES H. BIGGER 1

1 Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306

The acrorhagial responses of four sea anemones, Anthopleura krebsi, Bunodosoma cavernata, Anemonia sargassensis, and Anthopleura xanthogrammica, are described. All four acrorhagial responses can be considered forms of aggression. The acrorhagial response is only one of several responses of sea anemones to contact with other animals; others include several methods of avoidance and feeding. Prior experience can influence the acrorhagial response. In A. krebsi, the effect of a prior encounter on the excitation threshold can be seen for at least 2 hr.

Interspecific behavioral interactions were examined in A. krebsi, B. cavernata, and A. sargassensis. With one exception, acrorhagial responses were only elicited by contact with some anthozoans. The exception is that some A. krebsi respond to the scyphistomac of the scyphozoan Cassiopea. xamachana. Some C. xamachana medusae from the same clone also elicited acrorhagial expansion and application behavior but never acrorhagial peeling.

Intraspecific interactions were examined in A. krebsi. Clonemates and groupmates never elicited acrorhagial responses from one another. Some non-groupmates, including different-colored groups, did not respond to one another and in some other group combinations the interactive outcome was variable. It is suggested the acrorhagial response involves multiple alleles and perhaps involvement of different loci coding for cell-surface recognition molecules. Several competition models were examined for these intraspecific interactions. An intergroup linear hierarchy was not found.

The acrorhagial response is certainly an example of self/not-self recognition. This response has exquisite specificity and leads to cytotoxic effects. It cannot at this time be considered immunological.




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X. Fernandez-Busquets and M. M. Burger
The Main Protein of the Aggregation Factor Responsible for Species-specific Cell Adhesion in the Marine Sponge Microciona prolifera Is Highly Polymorphic
J. Biol. Chem., October 31, 1997; 272(44): 27839 - 27847.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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