Scholarlink

<p>Phenotypic plasticity refers to the ability of organisms to adjust traits in response to environmental variation without genetic modification, although this capacity may be constrained in species involved in close ecological associations. This study evaluated whether population traits of the crab <i>Microcassiope xantusii</i>, commonly associated with <i>Pocillopora</i>-dominated reefs, vary according to reef conditions, specifically in relation to coral cover and temperature. Population structure (size and sex distributions, and sex ratio) and population-dynamic traits (growth, mortality, and somatic production) were analyzed across three reefs in the Mexican Central Pacific: Bahía de Chamela (CH), Cuastecomate–Punta Melaque (CT–PM), and Punto B (PB), which differed in habitat condition. Population structure was consistent among reefs, suggesting constraints related to shared habitat characteristics rather than environmental variability. Conversely, population-dynamic traits varied among sites, indicating plastic responses. PB, the warmest reef with the lowest coral cover, exhibited higher individual growth rates, reduced temporal oscillations in growth, and elevated mortality and somatic production. CT–PM showed comparatively low productivity, whereas CH displayed intermediate values across most parameters. Overall, our results suggest that <i>M. xantusii</i> can adjust key population-dynamic traits in response to contrasting reef conditions while maintaining a relatively stable population structure within similar habitat contexts.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Signal of phenotypic plasticity in the population dynamics of the crab Microcassiope xantusii across Pocillopora-dominated coral reefs

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月21日

查看全文
  • Sandra Rodriguez-Huezo,
  • Manuel Ayon-Parente,
  • Arizbeth Alonso-Dominguez,
  • Fabian Alejandro Rodriguez-Zaragoza,
  • Ignacio Caceres

摘要

Phenotypic plasticity refers to the ability of organisms to adjust traits in response to environmental variation without genetic modification, although this capacity may be constrained in species involved in close ecological associations. This study evaluated whether population traits of the crab Microcassiope xantusii, commonly associated with Pocillopora-dominated reefs, vary according to reef conditions, specifically in relation to coral cover and temperature. Population structure (size and sex distributions, and sex ratio) and population-dynamic traits (growth, mortality, and somatic production) were analyzed across three reefs in the Mexican Central Pacific: Bahía de Chamela (CH), Cuastecomate–Punta Melaque (CT–PM), and Punto B (PB), which differed in habitat condition. Population structure was consistent among reefs, suggesting constraints related to shared habitat characteristics rather than environmental variability. Conversely, population-dynamic traits varied among sites, indicating plastic responses. PB, the warmest reef with the lowest coral cover, exhibited higher individual growth rates, reduced temporal oscillations in growth, and elevated mortality and somatic production. CT–PM showed comparatively low productivity, whereas CH displayed intermediate values across most parameters. Overall, our results suggest that M. xantusii can adjust key population-dynamic traits in response to contrasting reef conditions while maintaining a relatively stable population structure within similar habitat contexts.