TED-Ed: These animals are also plants ... wait, what? | Luka Seamus Wright

Elysia chlorotica, a unique slug, can photosynthesize by stealing chloroplasts from algae. It lives in salt marshes and can survive a year without eating, acting like a plant. This mixotrophic ability is rare, with Elysia holding chloroplasts longer than other slugs. The chloroplasts repair themselves, and the slug adjusts its genes to maintain them. Symbiotic relationships are common in marine life, with organisms like corals and clams hosting algae for nutrients. Some algae, like Triphosphorca, can consume animals, surviving in darkness. These processes mirror early plant evolution, where chloroplasts originated from cyanobacteria consumed by single-celled animals.

How do the survival abilities of chloroplasts contribute to the longevity of Elysia chlorotica?

Discuss the significance of the relationship between Elysia chlorotica and the chloroplasts it acquires.