Nutrition and Reproduction
Similar to fungi, actinomycetes such as
Salinispora build a substrate hyphae that allow the organism to
absorb nutrients. These substrate hyphae absorb mainly water
which is how it attains nutrients. However, unlike fungi,
Salinispora species do
not require a digestion then ingestion process for food intake.
Instead they excrete secondary metabolites through this process. They
require galactose and inulin for growth and ATP production.
The genus
Salinispora in general
cannot tolerate cold temperatures. It requires both a tropical and
an oceanic environment.
Salinispora tropica has not been found to have a host nor serve
as a host. It has rarely been found anywhere except
ocean sediments.
There have been strains isolated from a sponge, however there is no
evidence of any physiological interaction.
At the next stage in its life cycle
Salinispora tropica
produces asexual spores. In order for this to happen the
environmental conditions must be just right. Water temperature must
be around 25 degrees Celsius and it must be receiving large amounts
of galactose and inulin via substrate hyphae.