Influência da luz no comportamento alimentar de Isaurus tuberculatus Gray , 1828 (CNIDARIA: ZOANTHIDEA) em condições de laboratório

Abstract

The zoanthids are generally colonial anthozoans with a stolan in the basal region. They are very common and abundant in tropical intertidal communities. The species Isaurus tuberculatus presents tubercules on the body surface and it has small tentacules and a very thick mesogleia. The objective of this study was to observe the feeding behavior of Isaurus tuberculatus under different light conditions in laboratory. The animals were collected on Flecheiras Beach, Ceará State, Northeast Brazil. In the laboratory the animals were divided into three groups, and kept in aerated tanks. In the first group the animals were kept constantly in the dark and in the second group they were kept constantly in the light. The third group was the control that was kept in a 12 hrs dark and 12 hrs light daily cycle. This experiment last for eight days, and then, another one was done. In this other experiment, the animals that were kept in the dark in the first experiment now were kept constantly in light conditions and vice-versa. This experiment last for seven days. The results of these two experiments showed that the light conditions did not have an influence in the feeding behavior of Isaurus tuberculatus.