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Bioluminescence is an indicator of genetic variability in Amphipholis squamata Samuel Dupont*; J Mallefet; P Baret Université catholique de Louvain, Lab Animal Physiology, 5 Place Croix du Sud, Louvain-la-Neuve, 1348, Belgium      *(dupont@bani.ucl.ac.be) Amphipholis squamata is a small bioluminescent ophiuroid with an amazing reproductive biology: (i) the species is hermaphrodite; (ii) selfing and outcrossing are both possible; (iii) a lack of pelagic larval stage and, (iv) adults brood juveniles into genital bursae. Previous works indicate that variability is the rule at all the studied levels. For example, within the populations of Tindari (Sicily), three colour varieties were observed: beige, dark-brown and spotted. Great genetic differences and variations in the intensity of emitted light of one to three order were observed between the varieties. The aim of this work was to study the heritability of bioluminescence capabilities tacking the complex reproductive biology of the species into account. Four parameters of the light emission were used to compare adults and brooded juveniles: the maximal intensity, the latency time, the time to reach the maximal intensity and the time to reach half-extinction. Heritability of bioluminescence parameters will be discussed in relation to fitness and microevolution. [Talk: dupont.samuel.49321]

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