Phenotypic plasticity of the gastropod Melanoides tuberculata in the Nile Delta: A pollution-induced stabilizing selection

摘要: To understand the effect of metal pollution on speciation process, we conducted comparative analyses six populations gastropod Melanoides tuberculata, which dominated Manzala lagoon (Nile Delta, Egypt). Geometric morphometric analysis was implemented to quantify phenotypic plasticity species. The results from both Canonical Variate Analysis and Relative Warp indicated an overall decrease in morphological breadth M. tuberculata polluted sites. favored phenotypes sites have moderate whorl section, ovate aperture, less-prominent radial ornament, moderate-spired shells. Lack variations dominance intermediate indicate that stabilizing selection is driving pattern this Moreover, by using partial least square model confirmed major predictor observed shape variations, whereas other biotic/abiotic traits are a minor predictor.