Bubble algea

[Ruth]

I just ran across this on reef central and found it very interesting in that I have always wondered how the heck emerald crabs managed to eat bubble algea without popping it. Now it seems that it does not matter if you pop it because the spores are not likely ready to reproduce.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=673908
from Dr. Ron...



quote:
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The crab does pop the bubble. Such bubbles are single cells. If the alga in question is nearing reproductive status such "popping" may release spores. If the bubble isn't - and at any given time most are not, then all that the popping does is to gently release the cellular contents. The crab will eat some of these, the rest will disperse without harm.

Popping most of the bubble algae in a tank would probably not increase any bubble algal population.
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Learn something new everyday!