An ecological approach to anatomical variation in Clathromorphum circumscriptum (Rhodophyta, Cryptonemiales)
Anatomical variations in Clathromorphum circumscriptum collected at various levels and stations in the lower St. Lawrence Estuary were studied, using principal-component analysis performed on the correlation matrix of 12 morphometric characters. The first principal component, which accounted for 30.8% of total sample variance, was associated with variations following a bathymetric gradient. The continuous nature of the variations described could be attributable to a plastic response of the algae.The second principal component, which accounted for 20% of total variance, was not associated with variations following a geographic gradient as it may have been expected. However, samples from one station separated from others by having shorter cells. A causal relationship between the low spring and fall salinities recorded at this station and small cell size is suspected.With regard to the relation found between anatomical variations and the bathymetric gradient, interspecific relations within the genus Clathromorphum are examined.