Abteilung Aquatische Ökologie

Quagga mussels exhibit striking phenotypic plasticity, particularly in shell morphology across depth gradients. This work package investigates the developmental plasticity of quagga mussels, focusing on the emergence of the “profunda morph”, a thin-shelled form found in deep waters.

To understand this adaptive trait, we will conduct reciprocal transplant experiments using settlement plates deployed at 3 m and 60 m depths in Lake Constance. Mussels will be moved between habitats every two months and monitored over one year. This experimental design allows us to:

i) Determine when and under what conditions the profunda morph becomes fixed,

ii) Track morphological changes across depth using geometric morphometrics, and

iii) Analyse gene expression patterns to uncover molecular drivers of plasticity.

Environmental data (e.g., temperature, food availability) will be recorded alongside morphology. Transcriptomic analyses will reveal how gene activity shifts in response to environmental change, shedding light on the mechanistic basis of plasticity in invasive species.