Effects of genotype and environment on phenotypic variability in Limnocythere inopinata (Crustacea: Ostracoda)

Abstract

Limnocythere inopinata (Baird) is a Holarctic species, widely distributed in non-marine waters, and mainly occurring in unisexual populations. It displays polymorphic traits which could be useful for taxonomical and (palaeo)ecological purposes, if the origin of these traits could be better understood. Three clones of L. inopinata were cultured in the laboratory under various temperature and salinity conditions (i.e. temperature 15, 20 and 25 °C, salinity expressed as electrical conductivity 400, 2000, 5000 and 8000 μS cm−1). Morphological traits for both the valves (shape and size) and soft parts (11 limb setae) were observed. Field populations from Chinese salt lakes and from Austrian lakes were also compared. The freshwater population from Mondsee and its derived clone M develop larger valves than those of the other two clones, clone N (from Neusiedlersee) and clone S (from Seewinkel, Oberer Stinkersee), which live exclusively in saline (alkaline) water. Parthenogenetic specimens from the freshwater lake Mondsee and sexually reproducing females from the Chinese salt lakes both have sub-rectangular valves with straight dorsal margin; the saline clones and populations have highly arched valves with rounded dorsal margin. No direct effects of temperature or salinity on valve ornamentation (reticulation, nodation) have been found. At least for nodation, a genetic factor seems apparent, as the saline clones N and S are never nodose, while the freshwater animals from Mondsee and the sexual animals from the Chinese salt lakes can be both with or without nodes. In the former case, number and position of nodes are variable. Both absolute and relative length of limb setae can be affected by environmental factors and by genotype, and this is the first time that this has been demonstrated in non-marine ostracods. Based on the present observations and experiments, it is concluded that L. inopinata is a variable, polymorphic species, consisting of a (semi-) continuous morphological cluster, in which both clonal genotypes and sexual haplotypes are nested. Therefore, Limnocythere sappaensis Staplin and L. binoda Huang are considered synonyms of L. inopinata; L. mongolica Daday is a possible synonym; L. sanctipatricii sensu Huang and L. dubiosa sensu Huang from Lake Qinghai are most likely erroneous identifications. Apparently recognisable clones with typical ecologies cannot be allocated a taxonomic rank, as this does not reflect a phylogenetic reality. Such links between recognisable morphologies and typical ecological ranges are useful for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions, but are applicable at a regional scale only.