Phylogenetic, ecological and biomechanical constraints on larval form: A comparative morphological analysis of barnacle nauplii.

ABSTRACT: Barnacle naupliar larvae are differentiated from other zooplankton by their unique pair of frontal lateral horns, frontal filaments, and a pear-shaped cephalic shield. Their morphology impose constraints on their ecological functions and reflect their evolutionary history. To explore the potential functional basis underlying the similarities and differences in barnacle larval form, we conducted a meta-analysis on the shape of the barnacle nauplii's cephalic shield and examined its relation to larval size, trophic mode, pelagic larval duration and habitat. Nauplii cephalic shield morphology of 102 species were quantified with normalized elliptic Fourier analysis. Most of the species were distributed around the center of the morphospace but a few extreme groups occupied the periphery: naupli

SUBMITTER: Wong JY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6224274 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature