Skeletal variability of the coral Favia gravida (Verrill, 1868) from Brazil

The skeletal variability of the coral Favia gravida, a species endemic to Brazil, was quantitatively described including populations from three locations: Tamandare (state of Pernambuco), Abrolhos (state of Bahia), and Santa Cruz (state of Espirito Santo). ten colonies were collected from each popul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biota neotropica 2007-01, Vol.7 (3), p.245-251
Main Authors: Amaral, Fernanda Duarte, Ramos, Carla Alecrim Colaco
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
Favia gravida
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Summary:The skeletal variability of the coral Favia gravida, a species endemic to Brazil, was quantitatively described including populations from three locations: Tamandare (state of Pernambuco), Abrolhos (state of Bahia), and Santa Cruz (state of Espirito Santo). ten colonies were collected from each population and fourteen morphological characters were measured from ten corallites per colony. The results of univariate (among 14 skeletal characters, 7 showed p < 0.05) analysis provide evidence to suggest that F. gravida has considerable morphological plasticity, which may explain its ability to adapt to different ecological conditions. The species also displays polymorphism within and between colonies of each population. Intercolony variation within populations was relevant for most of the variables measured. Canonical discriminant analysis (r = 0.8648) showed that the population farthest offshore (Abrolhos) was distinct from the other two (Tamandare and Santa Cruz), which have been affected by terrigenous sediments carried from the coast. Specimens from Santa Cruz displayed the highest degree of meandrinization.
ISSN:1676-0611
1676-0611
DOI:10.1590/S1676-06032007000300027