Individualistic patterns in the budding morphology of the Mediterranean demosponge Aplysina aerophoba

The external morphology of sponges is characterized by high plasticity, generally considered to be shaped by environmental factors, and modulated through complex morphogenetic pathways. This work shows for the first time that explants of the Atlanto-Mediterranean demosponge Aplysina aerophoba reared in aquaria under different pH and temperature conditions produce reproductive buds with a phenotype determined by the donor individual. These results suggest, therefore, that genotype may be an important factor controlling different phenotypes in this species.