Variación fenotípica del erizo Eucidaris tribuloides (Cidaroida: Cidaridae) en el Corredor Arrecifal del Suroeste del Golfo de México | Phenotypic variation of sea urchin Eucidaris tribuloides (Cidaroida: Cidaridae) along the Reef Corridor of the Southwest Gulf of Mexico

Introduction: Intraspecific morphological variation can be attributed to the result of genetic variation or influence of environmental heterogeneity. In the latter case, organ­isms are exposed to diverse environmental conditions which have an influence on their biological processes and can be seen reflected in the morphological adaptations of species. Indeed, Reef Corridor in the Southwest Gulf of Mexico (CASGM, in its Spanish acronym) is constituted of geographically separated reefs that are exposed to different large-scale oceanographic factors and show their own attributes with multiple environmental variables. Therefore, this can stimulate morphological variations of species populations that are distributed in this corridor. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the morphological variation of the Aristotle’s lantern of the sea urchin Eucidaris tribuloides along CASGM. Methods: The allometric relation between height of the Aristotle’s lantern and diameter of the test of 104 specimens was analyzed, and we also used a covariance analysis to detect allometric differences between groups. Apart from that, the variation of the shape of a rotule and a demi-pyramid for each sea urchin were analyzed using geometric morphometry. Results: There are allometric differences among reef systems in the north, center and south of Veracruz. The shape of rotula and demi-pyramid of sea urchins of the north zone are different from the central and south area. However, there were no differences in shape between the center and the South area. The centroid size of rotula and demi-pyramid of the sea urchins of the North are larger than those in the center and the South. Conclusions: Along the Corridor of the Southwest of the Gulf of Mexico, specimens of E. tribuloides showed a morphological variation in their ana­lyzed structures, these results can be explained by the geographical and environmental gradients of the CASGM, in addition to the feeding habits of E. tribuloides and the availability of the food resource in the habitat where they are established. As a stimulus to the morphological variation found in this research, the distance among the reef systems and the marine currents patterns are also considered.

Fil: Escarcega Quiroga, Pastor. Universidad Veracruzana; México

Fil: Granados Barba, Alejandro. Universidad Veracruzana; México

Fil: Gonzalez Gandara, Carlos. Universidad Veracruzana; México

Fil: Epherra, Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Puerto Madryn. Instituto Patagónico del Mar; Argentina

Fil: Marin-Hernandez, Mark. Universidad Veracruzana; México

Fil: Crespi-Abril, Augusto César. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Puerto Madryn. Instituto Patagónico del Mar; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; Argentina