Plasticity and conservatism in sclerites of a Caribbean octocoral

摘要: Species level identification of octocorals is often based on the form skeletal elements, sclerites. Morphological variation in sclerites across and within habitats complicates both species delineation specimens, which are essential for characterizing understanding octocoral diversity. In order to quantify effects environmental plasticity sclerite morphology, branches from Caribbean gorgonian Antillogorgia bipinnata were removed colonies at depths 18 23 m reciprocally transplanted between those sites an 8 depth site 7 months. Images compared using elliptical Fourier analyses (EFA) outline. The length scaphoids produced after transplantation was larger than older tissue, suggesting affected by process transplantation. Shape as detected EFA, differed sites, reciprocal crosses suggest some difference a plastic response environment. results demonstrate presence form. However, while detectable differences not apparent microscopical observations thus would affect specimens nor traditional delineation.