Complex morphological variability in complex evaporitic systems: thermal spring snails from the Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico.
Thermal springs in evaporitic environments provide a unique biological laboratory in which to study natural selection and evolutionary diversification. These isolated systems may be an analogue for conditions in early Earth or Mars history. One modern example of such a system can be found in the Chihuahuan Desert of north-central Mexico. The Cuatro Cienegas basin hosts a series of thermal springs that form a complex of aquatic ecosystems under a range of environmental conditions. Using landmark-based morphometric techniques, we have quantified an unusually high level of morphological variability in the endemic gastropod Mexipyrgus from Cuatro Cienegas. The differentiation is seen both within and between hydrological systems. Our results suggest that this type of environmental system is capable of producing and maintaining a high level of morphological diversity on small spatial scales, and thus should be a target for future astrobiological research.
Tang
Carol M
CM
Invertebrate Zoology and Geology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California 94118, USA. ctang@calacademy.org
Roopnarine
Peter D
PD
D000818:Animals; D003889:Desert Climate; D004777:Environment; D005843:Geography; D045482:Hot Springs / Q000737:chemistry*; D019369:Life; D008800:Mexico; D010802:Phylogeny; D014867:Water
D014867:Water