Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Bilateral symmetry is a fundamental organizational trait in many metazoans. However, deviations from this symmetry, manifested as directional or fluctuating asymmetries, offer valuable insights into developmental, functional, and environmental processes. This study quantified and characterized bilateral asymmetry in three related species of the genus Abatus using a dual approach that integrates linear and geometric morphometrics. Our analyses reveal consistent patterns of directional asymmetry across different species, with specific trends showing that the left body sides tend to be larger. In contrast, fluctuating asymmetry exhibited an inverse relation with directional asymmetry. Also, linear morphometric analysis showed no significant correlation between directional asymmetry and either sex or body size, while geometric analyses only identified subtle shape deviations related to size but not to sex. These findings allow us to discuss the possible origins of this trait, mainly related to developmental constraints due to reproduction or growth, or carried over on a genetic basis. Our results highlight the importance of combining different morphometric approaches to clarify complex patterns of morphological variation and emphasize the significance of asymmetry analyses in understanding evolutionary and ecological processes in irregular echinoids.
Source: Symmetry
DOI: 10.3390/sym17091458
Institutions: Instituto de Biodiversidad de Ecosistemas Antárticos y Subantárticos, University of Chile, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, École Pratique des Hautes Études, Université de Bourgogne, Biogéosciences, University of Aberdeen, South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute, University of La Serena, Catholic University of the Maule, Universidad de Magallanes, Universidad Andrés Bello
Language: English
Subfield: Geometry and Topology
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W4413983490