The Chemical Control of Feeding Behaviour in Cyphastrea Ocellina and in Some Other Hawaiian Corals*

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Abstract
1. The feeding response of the Hawaiian coral Cyphastrea ocellina was elicited by alcoholic extracts of Artemia nauplii and of plankton. 2. Chromatographic analysis of these extracts revealed that the imino acid proline was primarily responsible for the observed mouth opening and feeding behaviour. 3. Somewhat less feeding activity was also caused by the reduced tripeptide glutathione. 4. Analogues of these compounds, pipecolic acid and S-methyl glutathione, respectively, were as effective as the naturally occurring compounds. 5. Some data are also presented for the feeding responses of two other Hawaiian corals, Pocillopora damicronis and Fungia scutaria.