The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

European-scale analysis of seasonal variability in limpet grazing activity and microalgal abundance

European-scale analysis of seasonal variability in limpet grazing activity and microalgal abundance
European-scale analysis of seasonal variability in limpet grazing activity and microalgal abundance
The film of microalgae and macroalgal propagules which coats intertidal rocks is the main food resource of Limpets, the dominant grazers on exposed shores of north-west Europe. Spatial and temporal variability in feeding activity of Limpets and abundance of microalgae were examined at mid-tide level across a European gradient from the Isle of Man in the British Isles to south-west Portugal. Feeding activity was assessed as the frequency of radula scrapes on wax surfaces placed on the shore. This was undertaken monthly at 2 shores at each of 4 locations, the Isle of Man, south-west England, northern Spain and south-west Portugal, over 1 yr. The abundance of the microalgal film was determined simultaneously at 3 of the 4 locations by measuring the concentration of chlorophyll a on the rock surface. The density and species diversity of Limpets increased with decreasing latitude. This was mirrored by a trend of increased levels of Limpet grazing, although 1 location (northern Spain) did not fit this trend. Seasonal changes in limpet grazing intensity were found at 3 of the 4 locations, characterised by elevated grazing during the summer and autumn. The seasonal variations resulted from changes in the level of foraging of individual Limpets and were positively correlated with mean sea temperature in the Isle of Man and south-west England. The pattern of grazing activity was not solely a function of sea temperature. In the Isle of Man, grazing by Patella vulgata declined during the later stages of gonad development and increased following spawning. Seasonal variation in the standing stock of microalgae, measured as the concentration of chlorophyll a, was found at all 3 locations examined, the Isle of Man, south-west England and northern Spain, with greater abundance in the winter compared to summer. This pattern was consistent over both large (among locations: 100s of kilometres) and medium (between shores: 1000s of metres) scales. There were no correlations between microalgal abundance and limpet grazing activity at any location. There were significant negative correlations between chlorophyll a and maximum monthly air temperature and monthly sunshine hours. Comparison of microalgal abundance among locations showed a general decline in standing stock with decreasing latitude, but differences between specific locations varied with season. South-west England showed similar levels of microalgal abundance to the most northerly location (Isle of Man) in winter, and to the most southerly location (northern Spain) in the summer.
biofilm, herbivory, large scale, limpets, spatial variation, temporal variation
0171-8630
193-203
Jenkins, S.R.
f160f172-4162-4e5b-bf70-9048d9e7ec8d
Arenas, F.
d5198775-cd8e-4b01-afe2-39e20746eb4c
Arrontes, J.
e81b82e7-7583-464e-b582-101bb1913380
Bussell, J.
4b80f026-5c73-411a-856d-99c803075ffc
Castro, J.
7b4efc25-3334-4c07-8255-41be390b919b
Coleman, R.A.
8297ae7f-706b-4da0-bd9a-3326ce9e0e05
Hawkins, S.J.
758fe1c1-30cd-4ed1-bb65-2471dc7c11fa
Kay, S.
48a2ee19-d372-4a6b-9e0f-3be837de26cf
Martinez, B.
8a6ff689-869a-4ab4-a5ad-7d9f9f367cf4
Oliveros, J.
bb977347-ea3e-40c5-a3ca-b9caf3172838
Roberts, M.F.
75f102c2-5f20-4426-9bef-a6ebf2ec1fc0
Sousa, S.J.
cbcd515c-0775-4278-b143-fde8a023e048
Thompson, R.C.
1a394a6d-b006-4aec-b9be-b3e6c16fdb7b
Hartnoll, R.G.
350a79bb-86b5-4cac-ab51-13cbfeef826d
Jenkins, S.R.
f160f172-4162-4e5b-bf70-9048d9e7ec8d
Arenas, F.
d5198775-cd8e-4b01-afe2-39e20746eb4c
Arrontes, J.
e81b82e7-7583-464e-b582-101bb1913380
Bussell, J.
4b80f026-5c73-411a-856d-99c803075ffc
Castro, J.
7b4efc25-3334-4c07-8255-41be390b919b
Coleman, R.A.
8297ae7f-706b-4da0-bd9a-3326ce9e0e05
Hawkins, S.J.
758fe1c1-30cd-4ed1-bb65-2471dc7c11fa
Kay, S.
48a2ee19-d372-4a6b-9e0f-3be837de26cf
Martinez, B.
8a6ff689-869a-4ab4-a5ad-7d9f9f367cf4
Oliveros, J.
bb977347-ea3e-40c5-a3ca-b9caf3172838
Roberts, M.F.
75f102c2-5f20-4426-9bef-a6ebf2ec1fc0
Sousa, S.J.
cbcd515c-0775-4278-b143-fde8a023e048
Thompson, R.C.
1a394a6d-b006-4aec-b9be-b3e6c16fdb7b
Hartnoll, R.G.
350a79bb-86b5-4cac-ab51-13cbfeef826d

Jenkins, S.R., Arenas, F., Arrontes, J., Bussell, J., Castro, J., Coleman, R.A., Hawkins, S.J., Kay, S., Martinez, B., Oliveros, J., Roberts, M.F., Sousa, S.J., Thompson, R.C. and Hartnoll, R.G. (2001) European-scale analysis of seasonal variability in limpet grazing activity and microalgal abundance. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 211, 193-203.

Record type: Article

Abstract

The film of microalgae and macroalgal propagules which coats intertidal rocks is the main food resource of Limpets, the dominant grazers on exposed shores of north-west Europe. Spatial and temporal variability in feeding activity of Limpets and abundance of microalgae were examined at mid-tide level across a European gradient from the Isle of Man in the British Isles to south-west Portugal. Feeding activity was assessed as the frequency of radula scrapes on wax surfaces placed on the shore. This was undertaken monthly at 2 shores at each of 4 locations, the Isle of Man, south-west England, northern Spain and south-west Portugal, over 1 yr. The abundance of the microalgal film was determined simultaneously at 3 of the 4 locations by measuring the concentration of chlorophyll a on the rock surface. The density and species diversity of Limpets increased with decreasing latitude. This was mirrored by a trend of increased levels of Limpet grazing, although 1 location (northern Spain) did not fit this trend. Seasonal changes in limpet grazing intensity were found at 3 of the 4 locations, characterised by elevated grazing during the summer and autumn. The seasonal variations resulted from changes in the level of foraging of individual Limpets and were positively correlated with mean sea temperature in the Isle of Man and south-west England. The pattern of grazing activity was not solely a function of sea temperature. In the Isle of Man, grazing by Patella vulgata declined during the later stages of gonad development and increased following spawning. Seasonal variation in the standing stock of microalgae, measured as the concentration of chlorophyll a, was found at all 3 locations examined, the Isle of Man, south-west England and northern Spain, with greater abundance in the winter compared to summer. This pattern was consistent over both large (among locations: 100s of kilometres) and medium (between shores: 1000s of metres) scales. There were no correlations between microalgal abundance and limpet grazing activity at any location. There were significant negative correlations between chlorophyll a and maximum monthly air temperature and monthly sunshine hours. Comparison of microalgal abundance among locations showed a general decline in standing stock with decreasing latitude, but differences between specific locations varied with season. South-west England showed similar levels of microalgal abundance to the most northerly location (Isle of Man) in winter, and to the most southerly location (northern Spain) in the summer.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Submitted date: 16 December 1999
Published date: 14 February 2001
Keywords: biofilm, herbivory, large scale, limpets, spatial variation, temporal variation

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 57892
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/57892
ISSN: 0171-8630
PURE UUID: ded9c909-00f8-4140-ad11-c5724ac5fb92

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 11 Aug 2008
Last modified: 07 Jan 2022 22:32

Export record

Contributors

Author: S.R. Jenkins
Author: F. Arenas
Author: J. Arrontes
Author: J. Bussell
Author: J. Castro
Author: R.A. Coleman
Author: S.J. Hawkins
Author: S. Kay
Author: B. Martinez
Author: J. Oliveros
Author: M.F. Roberts
Author: S.J. Sousa
Author: R.C. Thompson
Author: R.G. Hartnoll

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×