Morphological plasticity of silica scales of Synura echinulata (Synurophyceae) in crossed gradients of light and temperature - a geometric morphometric approach

作者：Nemcova Yvonne^*; Neustupa Jiri; Kviderova Jana; Rezacova Skaloudova Magda

来源：Nova Hedwigia, 2010, 21-32.

DOI：10.1127/1438-9134/2010/0136-0021

• phenotypic plasticity
• synuro phyceae
• Synura echinulata
• scale-shape
• geometric morphometrics

Phenotypic plasticity is the phenomenon of a genotype producing different phenotypes in response to different environmental conditions, and is a ubiquitous aspect of organisms. In this study we used geometric morphometrics to describe qualitatively and quantitatively phenotypic plasticity of Synura echinulata silica scales cultured at four combinations of light intensity and temperature. Relative warps analysis revealed that the most important morphological trends were the disproportionality of distal and proximal parts of the scale, and the extent of the anterior labyrinthic pattern. All the groups of scales investigated differed significantly in shape. Silica scales of S. echinulata exhibited considerable environmentally induced plasticity, but taxonomically relevant characters remained unchanged. However, the scales from the group grown under dark/cold conditions were clearly the most distinctly discriminated by canonical variate analysis. This group also exhibited the highest extent of scale plasticity, and finally was the only one, where stomatocysts (resting stages) were encountered in culture. Lower temperature, combined with long-term exposure to low light conditions, decreased the scale size, but increased the morphological plasticity of the silica scales. These effects may be considered a response to environmental stress.

• 出版日期2010