Changes in Shell Morphology in Elimia Comalensis (Gastropoda: Pleuroceridae) from the Edwards Plateau, Texas, USA
Department
Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-2007
Abstract
Species in the pleurocerid genus Elimia are important components of freshwater systems in the eastern United States, but little is known about their natural history. Using dual-simultaneous linear regression and principal components analyses, we show patterns of morphological change in two populations of E. comalensis from the Edwards Plateau, Texas. Both populations had similar rates of change for all shell measurements analyzed, and both showed similar decreases in growth as total length of shell increased. However, the size at which growth slowed was different between populations, and small shells tended to have a consistent shape, while larger shells were more variable.
Journal Title
The Southwestern Naturalist
Journal ISSN
0038-4909
Volume
52
Issue
4
First Page
475
Last Page
481
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
/10.1894/0038-4909(2007)52[475:CISMOE]2.0.CO;2