Algivore or phototroph? Plakobranchus ocellatus (Gastropoda) continuously acquires kleptoplasts and nutrition from multiple algal species in nature.

The sea slug Plakobranchus ocellatus (Sacoglossa, Gastropoda) retains photosynthetically active chloroplasts from ingested algae (functional kleptoplasts) in the epithelial cells of its digestive gland for up to 10 months. While its feeding behavior has not been observed in natural habitats, two hyp...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Taro Maeda, Euichi Hirose, Yoshito Chikaraishi, Masaru Kawato, Kiyotaka Takishita, Takao Yoshida, Heroen Verbruggen, Jiro Tanaka, Shigeru Shimamura, Yoshihiro Takaki, Masashi Tsuchiya, Kenji Iwai, Tadashi Maruyama
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2012-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3404988?pdf=render