Colonization and metabolite profiles of homologous, heterologous and experimentally evolved algal symbionts in the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana

This study aims to examine 1) whether E. diaphana from the GBR, which harbour B. minutum as its homologous symbiont, can form a stable symbiosis with heterologous wild-type and heat-evolved Cladocopium C1acro, and 2) the nutritional consequences of the respective Cladocopium C1acro associations with specific focus on central carbon metabolism. Since sugars are a key form in which Symbiodiniaceae translocate fixed carbon to the anemone host, particular focus is given to sugar-related metabolites.