Geographical morpho-physiological variability is linked to genetic diversity in an intertidal false limpet

• Published in: Marine biology 2022-04, Vol.169 (4), Article 49
• Main Authors: Nuñez, J. D., Fernández Iriarte, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air exposure; Air temperature; Arid climates; Aridity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Climate change; Desiccation; Distribution; Environmental aspects; Environmental changes; Environmental conditions; Exposure; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Gastropoda; Genetic aspects; Genetic diversity; Genetic variation; Geographical distribution; Habitats; Heterogeneity; Humid climates; Intertidal environment; Intertidal zonation; Latitude; Life Sciences; Marine & Freshwater Sciences; Marine biology; Marine molluscs; Microbiology; Morphometry; Mortality; Nucleotide sequence; Oceanography; Original Paper; PCR; Physiological effects; Physiology; Rocky shores; Semiarid climates; Shores; Species; Temperature; Temperature dependence; Water loss; Zoology
• ISSN: 0025-3162; 1432-1793
• DOI: 10.1007/s00227-022-04035-w

Intertidal rocky shores have spatial and temporal heterogeneity in their environmental conditions that make them suitable systems in which to explore variations in species’ morpho-physiological and genetic traits. The effect of air desiccation on the mortality and rates of water loss (W L ) of Siphonaria lessonii was tested during prolonged air exposure (48 h) at different temperatures (8 and 18 °C) and its relation to shell shape in contrasting geographic habitats. Morphometric and genetic data (ISSR-PCR technique) in limpets from contrasting geographic habitats were thus compared, considering humid temperate climate (MDQ, 38° of latitude) and semi-arid climate (SAO 40° of latitude). These field samplings were complemented with laboratory experiments on W L and mortality under different temperatures. All samples were collected during September and October 2010 from both sites. Both W L and mortality were dependent on size and the habitats where specimens were collected. Specimens collected from SAO (semi-arid climate) were also found to be less sensitive to air exposure at moderate temperatures (e.g., 18 °C) and prolonged air exposure (48 h) compared to MDQ. These patterns agree with morphotype variation in shell size and genetic constitutions between sites. These data demonstrate that the sensitivity of this species to air exposure can change with environmental conditions (such as temperature) and may be dependent on habitat. This shows a previously unknown geographic differential capacity of this limpet to modify W L in response to changes in temperature, which may have further implications on species and genetic distribution in the context of climate change.