The effect of auto‐ and heterotrophy on the carbon isotope composition (δ 13 C) of fatty acids (FA) and sterols was studied in the scleractinian coral Turbinaria reniformis. Colonies were maintained in aquaria for 6 weeks under two light levels (100 and 300 mmol photons m −2 s −1 ) and/or two trophic conditions (starved and fed twice a week with zooplankton). In high‐light conditions, lipid biomarkers, both in the zooxanthella...

The fatty acid and sterol compositions of zooxanthellae and animal fractions of the scleractinian coral Turbinaria reniformis were investigated under different light and feeding conditions, to study the symbiont‐host exchanges. Nubbins were maintained during 6 weeks under two light levels (100 [mol photons m −2 s −1 and 300 [mol photons m −2 s −1 ) and two feeding levels (starved and fed with zooplankton) in a factorial experi...