THE EFFECTS OF ILLUMINATION, FOOD AND SYMBIONTS ON GROWTH OF THE SEA-ANEMONE ANTHOPLEURA-ELEGANTISSIMA (BRANDT, 1835) .1. RAMET GROWTH

The effects of illumination, feeding regime and endosymbiotic algae on the growth of the intertidal sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima (B randt, 1835) were examined during a 3 month factorial laboratory exper iment. The addition of light (12 h: 12 h light:dark), food (fed 3 time s per week) and the presence of symbionts each had a significant posit ive independent effect on percent weight change of anemones, with smal ler anemones gaining more weight when fed than larger anemones. There was no difference in percent weight loss between small and large anemo nes when unfed.