Open AccessSpeciation, phenotypic plasticity, or ontogeny, the case of the genus G alkinius ( P yrgomatidae, C irripedia, C rustacea)
Author(s) -
SimonBlecher Noa,
Hosie Andrew M.,
GuyHaim Tamar,
Chan Benny K. K.,
Achituv Yair
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
zoological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.148
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1096-3642
pISSN - 0024-4082
DOI - 10.1111/zoj.12314
Subject(s) - biology , ontogeny , genus , zoology , phenotypic plasticity , clade , crustacean , host (biology) , morphology (biology) , genetic algorithm , evolutionary biology , phylogenetics , ecology , gene , genetics
Barnacles of the genus G alkinius occupy a large spectrum of host corals, making it one of the least host‐specific genera within the P yrgomatidae. Molecular analyses show that within the genus G alkinius there are highly supported clades, suggesting that the genus G alkinius is a complex of evolutionarily significant units ( ESUs ). The morphology of the opercular valves has been used as the basis for the separation of species of G alkinius . In this study, morphological variability was found both between specimens within ESUs extracted from different host species and between specimens extracted from the same colony. Identifications based on the opercular valves cannot therefore be assigned to different species despite being genetically distinguishable. It is proposed that in many cases the differences between valve morphology of different species of G alkinius are the outcome of ontogeny. Allometric growth of the valves has resulted in differences in the proportions of the parts of the valve. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London