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Size matters: competition within populations of the limpet Patella depressa

Size matters: competition within populations of the limpet Patella depressa
Size matters: competition within populations of the limpet Patella depressa
Competitive interactions within and between size-classes of the limpet Patella depressa Pennant were investigated in central Portugal. Experimental enclosures of 25 x 25 cm containing marked limpets were set up at mid-tidal level on the shore. Twelve treatments with different combination of densities and size-classes were assigned to the plots, with three replicates of each. Mortality was recorded every 15 days and length was measured monthly during the approximately 6 months of the experiment.

2. At the end of the experiment limpets were collected for determination of length, height, dry weight, sex and gonad development. The availability of food was assessed indirectly by determination of chlorophyll concentration with spectrophotometric analysis of rock chips. Reduced density treatments showed very low mortality and substantially increased growth. Both size-classes of limpets showed increased mortality and reduced growth in increased density treatments. This effect was, however, more marked for large than small limpets when caged separately.

3. Although both size-classes could negatively affect each other, the effect of large limpets on small was greater than the reverse. Large limpets are superior competitors that may modulate the abundance of small limpets on the shore. It is unlikely, however, that they will totally exclude small limpets due to intensity of competition within the large size-class. Niche differentiation and high recruitment at low shore levels are other possible factors that can contribute to reduce competition between the size-classes.

competitive interactions, grazing limpets, intertidal, rocky shores
0021-8790
435-446
Boaventura, D.
367a08c6-0fc0-4692-a333-4a512b258ef9
Cancela Da Fonseca, L.
d32b3a86-d935-45e1-a2de-015bc7f3c8aa
Hawkins, S.J.
758fe1c1-30cd-4ed1-bb65-2471dc7c11fa
Boaventura, D.
367a08c6-0fc0-4692-a333-4a512b258ef9
Cancela Da Fonseca, L.
d32b3a86-d935-45e1-a2de-015bc7f3c8aa
Hawkins, S.J.
758fe1c1-30cd-4ed1-bb65-2471dc7c11fa

Boaventura, D., Cancela Da Fonseca, L. and Hawkins, S.J. (2003) Size matters: competition within populations of the limpet Patella depressa. Journal of Animal Ecology, 72 (3), 435-446. (doi:10.1046/j.1365-2656.2003.00713.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Competitive interactions within and between size-classes of the limpet Patella depressa Pennant were investigated in central Portugal. Experimental enclosures of 25 x 25 cm containing marked limpets were set up at mid-tidal level on the shore. Twelve treatments with different combination of densities and size-classes were assigned to the plots, with three replicates of each. Mortality was recorded every 15 days and length was measured monthly during the approximately 6 months of the experiment.

2. At the end of the experiment limpets were collected for determination of length, height, dry weight, sex and gonad development. The availability of food was assessed indirectly by determination of chlorophyll concentration with spectrophotometric analysis of rock chips. Reduced density treatments showed very low mortality and substantially increased growth. Both size-classes of limpets showed increased mortality and reduced growth in increased density treatments. This effect was, however, more marked for large than small limpets when caged separately.

3. Although both size-classes could negatively affect each other, the effect of large limpets on small was greater than the reverse. Large limpets are superior competitors that may modulate the abundance of small limpets on the shore. It is unlikely, however, that they will totally exclude small limpets due to intensity of competition within the large size-class. Niche differentiation and high recruitment at low shore levels are other possible factors that can contribute to reduce competition between the size-classes.

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Submitted date: 5 July 2002
Published date: 2003
Keywords: competitive interactions, grazing limpets, intertidal, rocky shores

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 26174
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/26174
ISSN: 0021-8790
PURE UUID: b637eddb-dc20-40cf-a460-23b13b04827a

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Date deposited: 25 Apr 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 07:08

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Contributors

Author: D. Boaventura
Author: L. Cancela Da Fonseca
Author: S.J. Hawkins

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