The Effect of the Salinity Level on the Purging Behavior of Condylactis gigantea Sea Anemones

1. The Effect of the Salinity Level on the Purging Behavior of Condylactis gigantea Sea Anemones Meredith Humphrey GK12 Scholar

2. Classification of the Condylactis Sea Anemone • Sea Anemones are invertebrates, which are animals lacking a backbone. • Cnidaria is the phylum of animals that sea anemones belongs to. This comes from the cnida or sting capsule known as nematocysts which are present only among this group of animals. • Organisms of the Cnidaria phylum also share the characteristic of having only 2 body layers: the ectoderm (or epidermis) for the exterior and the internal endoderm (or gastrodermis). • Sea anemones along with corals form the class known as the Anthozoa. Sea anemones attach to firm objects, lack a skeleton of any sort and consist of a solitary polyp or closed base.

3. Current Classification of the Condylactis Sea Anemone

4. Structure and Form • Each polyp consists of a hollow cylindrical body or column with a single opening, the mouth. • The area on top is closed by an oral disc that has a central slit-like mouth. The mouth is used to ingest food and expel wastes. • Around the disc are many tentacles, found in groups of six. They also have stinging threads and beads called acrorhagi. Tentacles are used as a defense mechanism as well. • Anemones attach to rocks by the pedal disc or basal disc.

5. The tentacles catch prey with their stinging cells and then transfer it to the mouth.

6. Feeding Habits Condylactis gigantea feeds on squid, shrimp, and other similar organisms. Prey are paralyzed by the nematocysts located on the tentacles. The prey is then carried to the mouth, swallowed whole and digested. ***You must feed these sea anemones at least twice a month, otherwise they will find someone to nibble on.

7. Experimental Design Hypothesis: If the water is above the normal salinity level, then the purging behavior of the condylactis sea anemone will occur more often.

8. Purging Behavior closed = purging open = not purging

9. Type of organism Condylactis gigantea sea anemones # of organisms in each tank 5 organisms in each tank (15 total) Size of the aquarium (3) 10 gallon tanks Amount and type of water 9.5 gallons of water in each tank Type and size filters (3) Mill. 1000 Power Filter Type and size lids for tanks (3) Hoods with light Type and size bulb to go in the hoods (3) 10,000K Bulb Same hydrometer (1) Hydrometer to test salinity level of water Constants

10. Setting It All Up! The tanks will be set up at the beginning of September. Taking Measures! • Data will be collected… • Monday through Friday • 3 times a day (morning, early afternoon, & late afternoon) • for a month • Each Condylactis sea anemone will be fed a small piece of shrimp once a week. • The salinity level will be tested twice a week using a hydrometer.

11. Reproduction If time allows, I will observe the reproduction of the Condylactis sea anemone in the varied salinity levels as an extension to my project.

12. References Animal Library: Invertebrates: Soft Corals: Anemones: Haitian Pink-tip Anemone http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/zoo/inverts/softcorals/anemones/Cgigantea.htm Anthozoans http://www.cf.ac.uk/learn/try/marine/anthozoa.htm ASA Newsletter-Article 99-1b Marine Toxin http://www.asanltr.com/ASANews-99/991b.htm Condylactis gigantea (Condy, Haitian Anemone, Giant Golden Anemone): Narrative http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/condylactis/c._gigantea The Sea Anemone http://user.aol.com/aquariumVet/medic/anemone.htm Sea Anemones 1 http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/BMLSS/Anemone1.htm