Presenter: Carmen Sanchez-Reddick – Marine Biology
Faculty Mentor(s): Craig Young, Caitlin Plowman
Session: (Virtual) Poster Presentation
While the larval and early juvenile stages of Boltenia villosa are well documented in the literature, little is known about the adults. Early documentation of B. villosa describes a relationship between the body size and the stalk length as individuals with smaller bodies tend to have longer stalks and individuals with larger bodies tend to possess very short stalks. Anecdotal evidence suggests that larger individuals with short stalks make up the populations found in Washington, while Oregon populations consist of smaller individuals with longer stalks. The present study aimed to develop a qualitative understanding of the changes across the latitudinal gradient of Boltenia villosa. This was achieved by using a combination of morphometrics to determine any significant differences between different populations and histology to compare reproductive output. Preliminary results suggest a significant morphological difference between the two populations in body proportions and spine character despite their genetic similarities. Our understanding of the reproductive differences are continuing to be developed. These results indicate the possible existence of a subspecies of Boltenia villosa due to the distinct populations, but more research into each morphotype’s range is needed. This research also provides a broader understanding of how different marine environments can curate specific characteristics to appear in their inhabitants’ populations.