Phenotypic plasticity in the Caribbean sponge Callyspongia vaginalis (Porifera: Haplosclerida)

Authors

  • Susanna López-Legentil Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina - Department of Animal Biology (Invertebrates), Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona
  • Patrick M. Erwin Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina
  • Timothy P. Henkel Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina
  • Tse-Lynn Loh Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina
  • Joseph R. Pawlik Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2010.74n3445

Keywords:

sponge, spicule, COI mtDNA, 16S mtDNA, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, morphotypes, Callyspongia, phenotype

Abstract


Sponge morphological plasticity has been a long-standing source of taxonomic difficulty. In the Caribbean, several morphotypes of the sponge Callyspongia vaginalis have been observed. To determine the taxonomic status of three of these morphotypes and their relationship with the congeneric species C. plicifera and C. fallax, we compared the spicule composition, spongin fiber skeleton and sequenced fragments of the mitochondrial genes 16S and COI and nuclear genes 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA. Phylogenetic analyses with ribosomal markers 18S and 28S rRNA confirmed the position of our sequences within the Callyspongiidae. None of the genetic markers provided evidence for consistent differentiation among the three morphotypes of C. vaginalis and C. fallax, and only C. plicifera stood as a distinct species. The 16S mtDNA gene was the most variable molecular marker for this group, presenting a nucleotide variability (π = 0.024) higher than that reported for COI. Unlike recent studies for other sponge genera, our results indicate that species in the genus Callyspongia maintain a high degree of phenotypic plasticity, and that morphological characteristics may not reflect reproductive boundaries in C. vaginalis.

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Published

2010-09-30

How to Cite

1.
López-Legentil S, Erwin PM, Henkel TP, Loh T-L, Pawlik JR. Phenotypic plasticity in the Caribbean sponge Callyspongia vaginalis (Porifera: Haplosclerida). Sci. mar. [Internet]. 2010Sep.30 [cited 2024Mar.28];74(3):445-53. Available from: https://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/1173

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