Biochemical-Genetic and Acrorhagial Characteristics of Pedal Disc Colour Phenotypes of Actinia Equina

Abstract

Previous work has shown that three ecologically disinct morphs can be identified amongst beadlet anemones, Actinia equina L., ranging in column coloration from red to brown (Quicke, Donoghue & Brace, 1983; Quicke & Brace, 1984; Quicke et al. 1985). Each is adapted to a different inter-tidal range, and is characterized by a multi-locus gene complex, which includes loci encoding a number of metabolically important enzymes, pedal disc coloration and probably strength of pedal attachment. They have been named the upper (U), mid (M) and lower (L) shore morphs, and are relatively most abundant on the upper mid, lower mid and low shores respectively. Members of the U morph are typically homozygous slow and fast at a hexokinase locus and a malate dehydrogenase locus respectively, whereas those of the L morph are typically homozygous for the other allele at each of these loci; M morph individuals are heterozygous at both.