Comparing hot and cold stress in sea anemones (Aiptasia)

We investigated the effect of temperature on the activity, health, and mortality of sea anemones (Aiptasia). As a model species for corals, these organisms are studied in both their symbiotic and aposymbiotic states, which can be achieved through bleaching. The mechanism for bleaching is not fully understood, though it is common thought that bleaching through cold temperatures (instead of hot) is less stressful on the organisms. To study this, we examined the difference between externally applied heat stress and cold stress on the physical response of the anemones to study whether one temperature had a more detrimental effect than the other. A poster derived from research work with Rachel Wright, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences