Allometric changes during growth and reproduction in Eleutheria dichotoma (hydrozoa, athecata) and the problem of estimating body size in a microscopic animal

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Abstract
Changes in body morphology during growth and reproduction in the hydromedusa Eleutheria dichotoma are described in terms of variations in eight different characters: umbrella diameter, total surface area, tentacle area, umbrella area, tentacle knob diameter, number of embryos, and diameter and area of buds. Sexually (sex) and vegetatively (veg) reproducing medusae differ significantly in their body morphometrics. Statistically significant allometric relations exist between umbrella diameter and (1) central area (sex and veg); (2) tentacle area (veg); (3) total area (veg); (4) tentacle knob diameter (veg); (5) bud diameter; and (6) number of embryos. A significant correlation between umbrella diameter and area is also found in undetached buds. During sexual reproduction, umbrella area shows positive allometry and loses its correlations to total area, tentacle area, and tentacle knob diameter. Linear and nonlinear bivariate allometric coefficients allow estimation of total body size from only one or two easily measurable attributes, e.g., umbrella and tentacle knob diameter. Curve fitting by the classic allometric equation (y = bxc) is only negligibly worse than that obtained with a “full” equation (y = a + c), and statistical confidence is better. Chemical analyses for carbon and nitrogen content allow estimation of biomass from the projection area of the body surface. The relation factors are 1.06 μgC mm−2 (sex) and 1.14 μgC mm−2 (veg) for carbon and 0.293 μgN mm−2 (sex) and 0.287 μgN mm−2 (veg) for nitrogen. The C:N ratios are 3.6 and 4.0 for sexual and vegetative medusae, respectively. The use of allometric regression formulas to calculate surface areas and to relate these to carbon content provides quick estimations of body size in a microscopic animal.