studied.^ The maximum photosynthetic rate was found to be from 1.1 to 2.9 times 

 the respiratory rate, depending on species. This means that the potential 

 exists for corals to obtain a major portion of their nutrition from algal sym- 

 bionts. In view of what is known about the pathways of soluble photosynthesates 

 within plant-animal associations, it is very probable that the corals utilize 

 a large portion of the photosynthetic products of their zooxonthellae. 



REFERENCES 



1. Yonge, C. M. 1944. Experimental Analysis of the Association Between 

 Invertebrates and Unicellular Algae. Biol. Rev. 19: 68-80. 



2. Yonge, C. M. 1936. Mode of Life, Feeding, Digestion and Symbiosis with 

 Zooxanthellae in the Tridacnidae. Gt. Barrier Reef Expd. Sci. Rep. 



1: 283-321. 



3. Nicol, J. A. C. 1960. The Biology of Marine Animals. Pitman, London. 



4. Wiens, H. J. 1962. Atoll Environment and Ecology. Yale Press. 



5. Odum, H. T. and E. P. Odum. 1955. Trophic Structure and Productivity of a 

 Windward Coral Reef Community on Eniwetok Atoll. Ecol. Monogr. 25. 291-320. 



6. Kawaguti, S. 1937. On the Physiol, of Reef Corals. Palao Tropical Biol. 

 " Station Studies. 2: 187-198. 



7. Wells, J. M. and F, T. Haxo. Photosynthesis in Giant Clam - Algal 

 Associations. In preparation. 



8. Muscatine, L. 1967. Glycerol Excretion of Symbiotic Algae from Corals and 

 Tridacna and its Control by the Host. Science 156: 516-519. 



9. Goreau, T. F. 1959. The Physiology of Skeleton Formation in Corals. Biol. 

 Bull. 166: 59-75. 



10. Goreau, T. F. 1961. The Biology of Hydra. Univ. of Miami Press. 



11. Jerlov, N.C. 1951. Optical Studies of Ocean Water. Rept. Swedish Deep- 

 Sea Expedition. 3: 1-59. 



2 



The rates of photosynthesis and respiration measured in this study include the 



epifauna and epiflora as well as coral and zooxanthellae. The contributions 



of the former are considered small, however. 



VI-245 



