sculpin01
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I've seen a lot of confusion here regarding coral utilization of nitrate and and ammonium. Corals and zooxanthellae both can import ammonia/ammonium and nitrates. Ammonium/ammonia can be immediately utilized for amino acid synthesis by both the coral cell and the zooxanthella for amino acid synthesis (specifically glutamate). Nitrate cannot be directly utilized for amino acid synthesis by the coral cells but CAN be utilized by the zooxanthellae.
Here's where the magic comes in: the zooxanthellae convert nitrate into ammonium and thereafter into amino acids, which are then FED BACK to the coral cell. So the coral cell definitely does benefit from nitrate, it's just indirectly. The amino acids are thereafter utilized for cell growth via protein synthesis.
Source: The Biology of Coral Reefs (Second Edition); pages 116-119; Sheppard, Davy, Pilling, and Graham; 2019
Amazon product ASIN 0198787359
Here's where the magic comes in: the zooxanthellae convert nitrate into ammonium and thereafter into amino acids, which are then FED BACK to the coral cell. So the coral cell definitely does benefit from nitrate, it's just indirectly. The amino acids are thereafter utilized for cell growth via protein synthesis.
Source: The Biology of Coral Reefs (Second Edition); pages 116-119; Sheppard, Davy, Pilling, and Graham; 2019
Amazon product ASIN 0198787359
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