| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立東華大學 === 海洋生物多樣性及演化研究所 === 97 === In order to understand the interactions between picoeukaryote and scleractinian corals, we investigated the ability of scleractinian corals to remove these small particles, as well as measuring the growth rates of coral, and to determine the effect of coral exudation on picoeukaryote growth. Experiments were conducted by adding cultured picoeukaryote (~1.6μm) to S. pistillata (SP), M. stellata (MS), and control tanks, respectively. The results showed that within 6 hrs., concentrations of picoeukaryote in the SP and MS tanks were significantly decreased under light and dark conditions, as compared to the control (p＜0.05). When extending the experiment to 6 days, picoeukaryote concentrations in the SP tanks decreased, while those in MS tanks increased. In the second experiment, we grew picoeukaryote with and without coral exudates. The results showed that picoeukaryote concentrations in SP tanks were significantly higher than in MS tanks and the control (p＜0.001), and the DOC concentrations in SP tanks were also significantly higher than in MS tanks (p＜0.001). In the third experiment, we grew M. stellata with and without picoeukaryote and the results showed that the growth rate of coral was not significantly different between the two, however the concentrations of NH3-N in MS tanks were significantly lower than the control (p＜0.01). We concluded that picoeukaryote can be removed by reef corals S. pistillata and M. stellata, and the coral exudates can reciprocally enhance picoeukaryote growth. Effect of picoeukaryote on coral growth was not clear, however picoeukaryote can decrease the NH3-N concentrations and might compete for the nutrient with symbionts in corals.
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