Adaptation capabilities of marine modular organisms

Abstract

Marine modular organisms such as hydroids and corals are plastic in their responses to continuously changing environments. Morphogenetic limitations are less important for modular animals and plants, than for unitary ones. Although each module varies relatively little, modular organisms are characterized by an extremely broad plasticity of shape. Sessile colonial animals grow into a heterogenous environment and so each modular organism has its own often unique shape. The mechanism of modular body plasticity and adaptation to the environment is based on cyclical morphogenesis through replication of modules. Plasticity of shape is achieved not only by colonial growth, but during unfavorable periods also by body reduction due to module reabsorbtion. ©1997 Kluwer Academic Publishers.