Early plastic responses in the shell morphology of Acanthina monodon (Mollusca, Gastropoda) under predation risk and water turbulence
Marine gastropods show pronounced plasticity in shell morphology in response to local environmental risks such as predation and dislodgement by waves. Previous studies have focused on juvenile and adult snails; however, adaptive plasticity might be expected to begin during embryonic and early pos...
| Autor Principal: | Solas, Maribel R. |
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| Otros Autores: | Hughes, Roger, Márquez, Federico, Brante, Antonio |
| Formato: | Artículo |
| Idioma: | English |
| Publicado: |
Inter-Research Science Center (IR)
2015
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: |
Marine Ecology Progress Series 527 |
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| Sumario: |
Marine gastropods show pronounced plasticity in shell morphology in response to
local environmental risks such as predation and dislodgement by waves. Previous studies have
focused on juvenile and adult snails; however, adaptive plasticity might be expected to begin during
embryonic and early post-embryonic stages as a means of increasing survivorship when individuals
first become vulnerable. We tested the above hypothesis by measuring shell morphology
of encapsulated embryos and hatchlings of Acanthina monodon exposed to predator odor and
water turbulence. Subjects were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: (1) predator odor + high water turbulence,
(2) no predator odor + high water turbulence, (3) predator odor + low water turbulence,
(4) no predator odor + low water turbulence (control). After approximately 1 mo, morphological
traits of the shell were measured using geometric morphometrics. Hatchlings, but not encapsulated
offspring, produced larger shells in the predator treatments. Encapsulated offspring and
hatchlings produced thicker shells in the predator treatments, irrespective of water turbulence,
whereas thinner shells were produced when high water turbulence acted alone. Even before
hatching, A. monodon can, thus, respond adaptively to potential mortality factors characterizing
the local external environment. Anticipating risk in this way should enhance survivorship from the
point of hatching through the vulnerable juvenile phase to adulthood. |
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