Physiological Variation Among Clonal Genotypes in the Sea Anemone Haliplanella lineata: Growth and Biochemical Content

We have explored physiological variability among clonal genotypes from a single population of the sea anemone Haliplanella lineata located at Indian Field Creek, Virginia. Information about the correlation between physiological variability and genetic differences may provide a foundation for a mechanistic understanding of the breadth of adaptation of individual genotypes (i.e., the nature of "general purpose genotypes") and of the concept of localized adaptation in clonal anemones. Anemones from three clones (A, B, C) were fed measured rations of adult Artemia, after which growth, absorption efficiency, and net growth efficiency were determined. Biochemical constituents were measured in the tissue of this group of anemones as well as in the tissue of anemones from the same clones that had fed ad libitum on Artemia nauplii. Anemones from the different clones did not differ significantly in growth, or gravimetric absorption or growth efficiencies, but significant differences were found in biochemical compos...