PlumX Metrics
Embed PlumX Metrics

Quantifying phenotypic gradients in freshwater snails: A case study in Lithasia (Gastropoda: Pleuroceridae)

Hydrobiologia, ISSN: 0018-8158, Vol: 605, Issue: 1, Page: 173-182
2008
  • 44
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 63
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

  • Citations
    44
    • Citation Indexes
      41
    • Policy Citations
      3
      • 3
  • Captures
    63

Article Description

Many authors have described a pattern of morphological variation in freshwater bivalves where shells taken from lentic and lotic environments, or headwaters and main stem reaches, appear to exhibit phenotypic gradients in size and shape. For example, mussels taken from headwater reaches tend to possess smooth, less inflated shells compared to the more obese, sculptured individuals downstream. Others observed similar relationships in certain freshwater gastropods, but this variation has not been quantified nor its existence explained in an ecological or evolutionary context. Geometric morphometrics indicated freshwater snails shells from the pleurocerid genus Lithasia from the Duck River, Tennessee, USA, show phenotypic gradients similar to those in freshwater mussels. Shells from upstream areas were narrow and less sculptured on the posterior portions of their body whorls, while downstream shells were more inflated and possessed significantly more sculpture. This phenotypic variation may reduce predation or damage due to dislodging. The nature of the observed plasticity suggests an unidirectional environment similar to that proposed by the river continuum concept. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Provide Feedback

Have ideas for a new metric? Would you like to see something else here?Let us know