The intricacy of structural and ecological adaptations: micromorphology and ecology of some Aspidogastrea

Abstract

This chapter aims to show that morphological and ecological adaptations of some animal species are highly intricate, formed by evolutionary processes over many millions of years. Disturbances upsetting the value of such adaptations may lead to the extinction of species that cannot easily be replaced, at least in some habitats. As an example we use two species of Aspidogastrea studied over many years by light and electron microscopy, DNA analyses and autecological approaches including studies of life cycles, effects on hosts, niche selection and population dynamics.