BIOLOGIYA MORYA, 2015, Vol. 41, No. 5, pp. 301-311

Intraspecific morphological variability of marine macrophytes and its determining factors

© 2015 S. Yu. Shibneva, A. V. Skriptsova

A.V. Zhirmunsky Institute of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041

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This paper analyzes the literature data on the morphological polymorphism of marine macrophytes. The effects of internal (genotype, irregular growth of thallus parts in ontogenesis) and external factors (water movement, light, nutrient concentration, temperature, biotic factors), as well as their combined effect on the morphology of foliose and branched marine macroalgae are discussed. The current status, prospects, and trends of research in this area are outlined.

Key words: morphological variability, adaptation, environmental factors, macroalgae.