Carregant...
Fitxers
Tipus de document
ArticleVersió
Versió publicadaData de publicació
Si us plau utilitzeu sempre aquest identificador per citar o enllaçar aquest document: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/190352
Changing feeding habits and ontogenetic dimorphism in juveniles and adults Aplysia punctata (Cuvier, 1803) (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) in the Mediterranean Sea
Títol de la revista
ISSN de la revista
Títol del volum
Resum
Specimens of Aplysia punctata inhabiting the Catalonian coast (NE Spain, Western Mediterranean Sea) display two different color patterns, which have been thought to represent two distinct species. However, molecular analyses conducted by other authors and confirmed herein show that there are no genetic differences between individuals of the two color morphs. At the same time these color morphs display distinct life history traits, including different size, mating behavior, and egg mass and larvae coloration. In this paper, it is hypothesized that distinct diets are responsible of these differences. The results of this study confirm that small red specimens of A. punctata feed on red algae and primarily Sphaerococcus coronopifolius and Plocamium cartilagineum; pigments from these algae give small specimens of A. punctata a very similar morphological appearance to adults of the Aplysia parvula species complex. In contrast, adult specimens of A. punctata feed preferentially on green algae of the species Ulva lactuca. This change in feeding behavior is probably related to defensive strategies involving camouflage. In addition, the egg masses take on a pink to reddish color that is retained in the larval stage of A. punctata juveniles.
Descripció
Matèries (anglès)
Citació
Citació
CÓRDOBA GONZÁLEZ, Dario, ENGUÍDANOS, Alba, VALDÉS, Ángel, BALLESTEROS, Manuel (ballesteros vázquez). Changing feeding habits and ontogenetic dimorphism in juveniles and adults Aplysia punctata (Cuvier, 1803) (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) in the Mediterranean Sea. _Mediterranean Marine Science_. 2022. Vol. 23, núm. 4, pàgs. 827-849. [consulta: 26 de novembre de 2025]. ISSN: 1108-393X. [Disponible a: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/190352]