| Sumario: | Phenotypic plasticity plays a crucial role in shaping morphological variation within marine populations, directly impacting traits of economic and ecological importance. This study investigates the extent to which water current influences the morphology—and therefore market quality—of the gooseneck barnacle Pollicipes pollicipes, a key species for rocky shore ecosystems and a highly valued seafood product in Western Europe. A controlled experiment was conducted in aquarium facilities using twelve barnacle clusters subjected to two hydrodynamic treatments: high flow (0.6 m/s) and low flow (<0.1 m/s). Over 11 weeks, morphological parameters were recorded weekly in 120 barnacles using caliber measurements, and linear mixed-effects models were applied to assess growth and shape changes over time. The results showed significant temporal trends in most morphological traits, including capitulum base diameter and peduncle diameter, but no strong effect of current treatment was detected. Only one marginally significant interaction (p = 0.0558) was found for peduncle diameter, though high variability and methodological limitations render this result inconclusive. Meanwhile, control barnacles held in a marina environment experienced a marked decrease in market quality. These findings suggest that other abiotic factors—particularly photoperiod—may exert a stronger influence on barnacle morphology than current alone. The experimental tanks had constant light exposure (12.5 h/day), unlike the naturally shaded marina conditions, supporting a hypothesis of phototropism-induced growth plasticity. Overall, the study supports phenotypic plasticity as a key driver of barnacle morphology and quality, offering potential for management strategies like habitat manipulation and transplantation to enhance fishery sustainability.
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