Recruitment of the limpet Patella ulyssiponensis and its relationship with crustose coralline algae: patterns of juvenile distribution and larval settlement
| Autor: | Joana N. Fernandes, Teresa Silva, Stephen J. Hawkins, Teresa Cruz, Maria Inês Seabra |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2019 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
SW Portugal 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences biology Ecology 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology Limpet Coralline algae Intertidal zone Aquatic Science biology.organism_classification rocky-shore habitats 01 natural sciences settlement cues Patella (gastropod) Benthic zone Patella ulyssiponensis Juvenile Crustose patellid larvae limpet recruitment Patellogastropoda 0105 earth and related environmental sciences Coralline crusts |
| Zdroj: | Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC)-FCT-Sociedade da Informação instacron:RCAAP |
| Popis: | Recruitment of the limpetPatella ulyssiponensiswas investigated in relation to the presence of living crustose coralline algae (CCA) in rocky-shore habitats. Juvenile limpets (≤10 mm maximum shell length) were counted in CCA-present and CCA-absent habitats, on three shores in SW Portugal during summer 2007 and winter 2009. Furthermore, the settling response of laboratory-reared larvae ofP. ulyssiponensisto CCA-covered substratum, and bare-rock, was examined. Across the intertidal zone, we found a clear association between the distribution and abundance of juveniles and the presence of CCA. Although the presence of CCA was not an absolute requisite for juvenile occurrence, null juvenile densities were mostly recorded in CCA-absent areas. The highest juvenile densities (maximum of 64 individuals in 15 × 15 cm) were consistently found in CCA-dominated habitats, namely steep wave-exposed areas at low-shore and rock-pools. The hypothesis of CCA-enhanced settlement was not supported, as settlement intensities of laboratory-reared larvae were similar between chips of rock encrusted by CCA and chips of bare-rock. From the overall number of settlers onto CCA-encrusted rock chips, 51% were found in tiny pits lacking CCA. This was the first study of the settlement patterns of larvae of the genusPatellausing naturally occurring rocky substrata. These results are preliminary and should be confirmed with choice-experiments and improved monitoring of the position of settlers. We suggest that CCA plays a role in the recruitment ofP. ulyssiponensis, potentially promoting survivorship of early benthic stages, but possibly not enhancing settlement. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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