Relative importance of ecophenotypic plasticity and sexual dimorphism in determining shell shape in the Amazonian freshwater mussel Castalia ambigua (Unionida: Hyriidae) along a hydrological gradient

Shell shape variation of the freshwater mussel Castalia ambigua in relation to environmental and genetic drivers remains unresolved in South America. Along an increasing upstream to downstream hydrological gradient in the Caeté River, eastern Amazon, Brazil, we evaluated two co-occurring morphotypes of C. ambigua: the first is elongated and compressed; the second is rounded and inflated. We performed multivariate shape analysis on the lateral view of the right valve and the umbonal view, to identify potential ecophenotypic trends. We also investigated whether the degree of shell inflation was associated with sexual dimorphism. Castalia ambigua shell shape differed along the hydrological gradient and between morphotypes. However, in high hydraulic energy habitats the two morphotypes tend to converge. Inflated shells of C. ambigua corresponded to female specimens, implying that shell shape variation in low hydraulic energy habitats was associated with sexual dimorphism. We found strong evidence of ecophenotypic plasticity and variation in sexual dimorphism in the freshwater mussel C. ambigua, associated with a hydrological gradient. Ecophenotypic plasticity appears to override sex-linked shell shape determination in high energy habitats. Differences in shell shape and the identification of ecomorphotypes are important for management efforts, such as protecting the specific habitats associated with both morphotypes.