Optimization of monoclonal production of the glass anemone Aiptasia pallida (Agassiz in Verrill, 1864)

Abstract

Sea anemones of genus Aiptasia are commonly used as biological models for biotechnological and molecular research. They are also employed to study the symbiotic interactions between cnidarians and zooxanthellae. In addition, Aiptasia is an important prey for the culture of the highly priced ornamental nudibranch Aeolidiella stephanieae. The purpose of this study was to determine the best culture conditions for establishing large monoclonal populations of this anemone. This study analyzed the effect of the following factors on Aiptasia pallida propagation and biomass increase throughout 60 days: initial anemone stocking density, light regimes, water temperature and different live diets. The best results were achieved at a higher water temperature (26 °C) and in darkness. Artemia nauplii were a better live prey than Artemia metanauplii to maximize biomass production, with lower initial anemone stocking densities maximizing propagation ratios. This research provides initial data that enables a large-scale production of monoclonal A. pallida, either to be used as a biological model, for the screening of new natural products or in the aquaculture of ornamental sea slugs.