Individualistic patterns in the budding morphology of the Mediterranean demosponge Aplysina aerophoba

• Published in: Mediterranean Marine Science
• Main Authors: DÍAZ, JULIO A., MOVILLA, JUANCHO, FERRIOL, PERE
• Other Authors: Govern de les Illes Balears
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research 2019
• Subjects: Mediterranean Sea; Aplysina aerophoba; Asexual reproduction; Morphogenesis; Sponge budding; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://ejournals.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/hcmr-med-mar-sc/article/view/19322; https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.19322

The external morphology of sponges is characterized by high plasticity, generally considered to be shaped by environmental factors and modulated through complex morphogenetic pathways. This work shows for the first time that explants of the Atlanto-Mediterranean demosponge Aplysina aerophoba reared in aquaria under different pH and temperature conditions produce reproductive buds with a phenotype determined by the donor individual. These results suggest, therefore, that genotype can be an important factor controlling different phenotypes in this species.