Combined ecological factors permit classification of developmental patterns in benthic marine invertebrates: a discussion note.
Traditional classifications of developmental patterns of marine benthic invertebrates are based on combinations of embryological (direct or indirect development) and ecological (such as nutritional source or habitat) characteristics. Different schemes have been proposed for different reasons, relating to ecology, evolution and/or development. However, these classifications contain interconnected characters that do not efficiently discriminate between developmental patterns and, thus, do not fully apply to either ecological or embryological studies. An ecological multifactor classification based on three independent two-state characters (pelagic/benthic, free/protected, and feeding/non-feeding) is proposed. It discriminates between eight developmental patterns and can encompass any ecological pattern of development among marine benthic invertebrates.
Poulin
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Observatoire Océanologique, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, CNRS UMR 7628, Banyuls-sur-mer, France
Boletzky
S v.
S
Féral
J -P.
J