Recruitment of the limpet Patella ulyssiponensis and its relationship with crustose coralline algae: patterns of juvenile distribution and larval settlement
Recruitment of the limpet Patella ulyssiponensis and its relationship with crustose coralline algae: patterns of juvenile distribution and larval settlement
Recruitment of the limpet Patella ulyssiponensis was 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 of P. ulyssiponensis to 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 genus Patella using 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 of P. ulyssiponensis, potentially promoting survivorship of early benthic stages, but possibly not enhancing settlement.
1787-1796
Seabra, M. I.
ce8c89ee-8622-4e5d-8ff1-68259cb729e3
Cruz, T.
d0d2cb19-00d1-465b-abd6-1f8d54ec32d8
Fernandes, J. N.
f2983217-4bad-42ae-8331-fd891405e422
Silva, T.
55b10a26-68a7-4214-9651-d6ca8600d657
Hawkins, S. J.
758fe1c1-30cd-4ed1-bb65-2471dc7c11fa
December 2019
Seabra, M. I.
ce8c89ee-8622-4e5d-8ff1-68259cb729e3
Cruz, T.
d0d2cb19-00d1-465b-abd6-1f8d54ec32d8
Fernandes, J. N.
f2983217-4bad-42ae-8331-fd891405e422
Silva, T.
55b10a26-68a7-4214-9651-d6ca8600d657
Hawkins, S. J.
758fe1c1-30cd-4ed1-bb65-2471dc7c11fa
Seabra, M. I., Cruz, T., Fernandes, J. N., Silva, T. and Hawkins, S. J.
(2019)
Recruitment of the limpet Patella ulyssiponensis and its relationship with crustose coralline algae: patterns of juvenile distribution and larval settlement.
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 99 (8), .
(doi:10.1017/S0025315419000869).
Abstract
Recruitment of the limpet Patella ulyssiponensis was 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 of P. ulyssiponensis to 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 genus Patella using 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 of P. ulyssiponensis, potentially promoting survivorship of early benthic stages, but possibly not enhancing settlement.
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e-pub ahead of print date: 4 November 2019
Published date: December 2019
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Local EPrints ID: 439366
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/439366
ISSN: 0025-3154
PURE UUID: 29837dcb-8713-4464-94e0-986b5cc494ea
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Date deposited: 17 Apr 2020 16:35
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 06:03
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Author:
M. I. Seabra
Author:
T. Cruz
Author:
J. N. Fernandes
Author:
T. Silva
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