Cyclomorphosis (also known as seasonal

polyphenism A polyphenic trait is a trait for which multiple, discrete phenotypes can arise from a single genotype as a result of differing environmental conditions. It is therefore a special case of phenotypic plasticity. There are several types of polyphe ...

) is the name given to the occurrence of cyclic or seasonal changes in the

phenotype In genetics, the phenotype () is the set of observable characteristics or traits of an organism. The term covers the organism's morphology or physical form and structure, its developmental processes, its biochemical and physiological pr ...

of an organism through successive generations. It occurs in small aquatic invertebrates that reproduce by

parthenogenesis Parthenogenesis (; from the Greek grc, παρθένος, translit=parthénos, lit=virgin, label=none + grc, γένεσις, translit=génesis, lit=creation, label=none) is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which growth and developmen ...

and give rise to several generations annually. It occurs especially in marine planktonic animals, and is thought to be caused by the epigenetic effect of environmental cues on the organism, thereby altering the course of their development.

References

{{biology-stub Biological processes Animal physiology