scholarly journals The effects of herbivorous gastropod species and densities on early algal succession in the high intertidal zone

1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A Tarpley
Author(s):  
Anno Faubel ◽  
Ronald Sluys ◽  
David G. Reid

A commensal relationship is described between the polyclad flatworm Paraprostatum echinolittorinae Faubel & Sluys gen. et sp. nov. and gastropod molluscs living on the Pacific coast of central America. Although the worms are relatively large in comparison with their hosts, the latter sustained no apparent damage. Considering the fact that the molluscs live in the upper eulittoral zone and littoral fringe of the shore, it is unlikely that the polyclads could survive for long outside the hosts. Diagnostic characters for the new genus and species are a long penial stylet joined to the proximal vesicle and absence of Lang's vesicle. It is pointed out that Aprostatum clippertoni Bock, 1913 and A. longipenis (Kato, 1943) have been incorrectly transferred to the genus Euplana Girard, 1893 and that Discoplana malagensis Doignon, Artois & Deheyn, 2003 should be transferred to the genus Ilyella Faubel, 1983.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (7) ◽  
pp. 612-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Eugenia Torroglosa ◽  
Juliana Giménez

The length of aerial exposure (i.e., environmental conditions) of an organism, due to daily tides, induces physiological responses. A mark–recapture field experiment was conducted in two intertidal zones (low tide and high tide) using the stain calcein AM to determine growth, as measured by shell length, of the mussel Brachidontes rodriguezii (d’Orbigny, 1842) along its vertical distribution off the north Argentinean coast. In the high intertidal zone, B. rodriguezii exhibited slower growth in shell length because of the physiological stress resulting from aerial exposure during low tides. In the low intertidal zone and during spring, B. rodriguezii exhibited faster growth in shell length. It is suggested that growth of B. rodriguezii relies on several environmental factors (temperature, photoperiod, and aerial exposure) that fluctuate according to tidal height.


Author(s):  
Saeed Ebrahimnezhad ◽  
Reza Naderloo

This paper provides data on diversity, zonation and seasonal fluctuations of decapod crustaceans at the northern Gulf of Oman coast, based on quantitative and qualitative samplings. A total of 75 species belonging to four infraorders, 27 families and 48 genera were identified. These species include 20 new records for the entire Gulf of Oman and 13 new records for its Iranian coast. The mid-intertidal zone showed a higher mean diversity and abundance than high- and low-intertidal zones. The mean diversity and abundance in the high-intertidal zone showed significant differences with the mid- and low-intertidal zones. The indices of species richness (Margalef), diversity (Shannon) and evenness (Pielou) showed significant differences among the intertidal zones. Most of the identified species (>60%) that had high values in their frequency of occurrence and relative abundance showed an overlapping vertical distribution, and were present in all three or just in two of the three defined zones. Other species were found only in one of the three zones (non-overlapping vertical distribution). The decapod community in the mid-intertidal zone showed a higher dissimilarity with the high-intertidal zone than with the low-intertidal. Both abundance and diversity were found to be lowest and highest during south-west and north-east monsoons, respectively. During south-west monsoon, the abundance of decapods declined dramatically, but species diversity and ecological indices did not show any statistically significant difference among the sampling periods.


Author(s):  
R. W. Rangeley ◽  
M. L. H. Thomas

The population dynamics of rock barnacles, Semibalanus balanoides (L.), residing in low and high intertidal zones are affected by conspicuously different factors. The barnacle population in the high intertidal zone tends to show longterm stability due to a low incidence of both predation and interspecific competition. Wave exposure, desiccation and intraspecific competition are more important factors affecting abundance and size distribution in this zone (Menge, 1976). In the low intertidal zone, barnacle predation by the dogwhelk, Nucella lapillus (L.) is intense (Menge, 1976) and both the adults and larvae are smaller than in the high intertidal zone (Barnes, 1953). The growth form of S. balanoides is density dependent with taller, more columnar individuals predominating at high densities and short conical barnacles at low densities. Lower fecundity of conical individuals may be due to lower internal shell volume compared with columnar forms (Wethey, 1984). Fecundity increases both with increasing age and base length (Arnold, 1977) and is positively density dependent (Wethey, 1984).


2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 5123-5163
Author(s):  
◽  

Abstract. Bald mud beaches were found among the mangrove marshes in Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve, Hainan, China. To investigate the possible reasons for this phenomenon, the intertidal zones of a mangrove transect and a bald beach transect with similar topography and same tidal actions were selected for comparison study. Along both transects, observed water table variations were significant in the high and low intertidal zones and negligible in the middle intertidal zones. Field investigations and observations invite two speculations: (1) existence of a high-permeability zone on each transect which underlies the low-permeability surface mud sediments and outcrops in the high intertidal zone, and (2) considerable inland freshwater recharge along the mangrove transect but negligible freshwater recharge along the bald beach transect. Two-dimensional numerical simulations based on these speculations gave results in line with the observed water table. The bald beach is most probably due to the lack of enough freshwater for generating a brackish beach soil condition essential to mangrove growth. It is also indicated that seawater infiltrated the high-permeability zone through its outcrop near the high intertidal zone, and discharged from the tidal river bank in the vicinity of the low tide line, thereby forming a tide-induced seawater-groundwater circulation which may provide considerable contribution to the total submarine groundwater discharge.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 121
Author(s):  
Sheyrel Tongkeles ◽  
Fransine B. Manginsela ◽  
Jety K. Rangan ◽  
Alex D. Kambey

This study held in Malalayang Beach Manado, aims to determine  the density and diversity of Gastropods on the Malalayang coast of Manado. So the research objective is to find out the density and diversity of  Gastropods in Malalayang Beach, Manado. The study using the line transect technique with 50 cm x 50 cm sized. The transect line is placed perpendicular to the coastline. The distance between the line transects is 20 meters. On each transect line 5 squares are placed. The distance between squares is determined using random numbers. Gastropod species found in Malalayang Beach Manado consist of  31 species and 17 genus, each consisting of the Archaeogastropoda that consists of 3 species, Mesogastropoda consists of  9 species, and the Order of the Neogastropoda of 19 species. The total density of Gastropods in Malalayang Beach in Manado is 6.27 individuals / m2 with diversity of 3.07, according to the criteria for diversity index of Malalayang coast having high diversity. Based on this, it is suggested that Manado Malalayang Beach can be maintained and carried out management that considers the feasibility of the environment as one of the requirements for sustainable development.Keywords: Gastropods, Density, Species DiversityABSTRAK Penelitian ini dilakukan di Pantai Malalayang Manado,berkaitan dengan permasalahan yang dikemukakan bagaimanakah kepadatan dan keanekaragaman Gastropoda di pantai Malalayang Manado. Maka tujuan penelitian adalah Mengetahui kepadatan dan keanekaragaman Gastropoda di Pantai Malalayang Manado. Pengumpulan data dengan pendekatan Teknik line transect menggunakan kuadrat berukuran 50cm x 50cm. Line transect diletakkan tegak lurus dengan garis pantai. Jarak antara line transect sebesar 20 meter. Pada masing- masing line transect diletakkan 5 kuadrat. Jarak antar kuadrat ditentukan dengan menggunakan angka acak. Spesies Gastropoda yang ditemukan di Pantai Malalayang Manado terdiri dari 31 spesies dan 17 genera yang masing-masing terdiri dari Ordo Archaeogastropoda 3 spesies, Ordo Mesogastropoda 9 spesies, dan Ordo Neogastropoda 19 spesies. Kepadatan total Gastropoda di Pantai Malalayang Manado 6.27 individu/m2 dengan keanekaragaman 3,07, Menurut kriteria indeks keanekaragaman pantai Malalayang memiliki keanekaragaman yang tinggi. Berdasarkan hal tersebut, maka disarankan agar Pantai Malalayang Manado dapat dijaga dan dilakukan pengelolaan yang mempertimbangkan sskelayakan lingkungan sebagai salah satu syarat pembangunan berkelanjutan.Kata kunci: Gastropoda, Kepadatan, Keanekaragaman Jenis


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo A. Scrosati ◽  
Matthew J. Freeman ◽  
Julius A. Ellrich

We introduce and test the subhabitat dependence hypothesis (SDH) in biogeography. This hypothesis posits that biogeographic pattern within a region differs when determined with species abundance data from different subhabitat types. It stems from the notion that the main abiotic factors that drive species distribution in different subhabitat types across a biogeographic region often vary differently across space. To test the SDH, we measured the abundance of algae and sessile invertebrates in two different subhabitats (high intertidal zone and mid-intertidal zone) at eight locations along the Atlantic Canadian coast. We conducted multivariate analyses of the species abundance data to compare alongshore biogeographic pattern between both zones. For both subhabitat types, location groupings based on community similarity not always responded to geographic proximity, leading to biogeographic patchiness to some extent. Nonetheless, both biogeographic patterns were statistically unrelated, thus supporting the SDH. This lack of concordance was most evident for southern locations, which clustered together based on high-intertidal data but showed considerable alongshore patchiness based on mid-intertidal data. We also found that the ordination pattern of these eight locations based on sea surface temperature data was significantly related to biogeographic pattern for the mid-intertidal zone but not for the high intertidal zone. This finding supports the rationale behind the SDH due to the longer periods of submergence experienced by the mid-intertidal zone. Overall, we conclude that biogeographic pattern within a region can depend on the surveyed subhabitat type. Thus, biological surveys restricted to specific subhabitats may not properly reveal biogeographic pattern for a biota as a whole or even just for other subhabitats. As many studies generate biogeographic information with data only for specific subhabitats, we recommend testing the SDH in other systems to determine its domain of application.


2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (10) ◽  
pp. 1221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul Demello ◽  
Nicole E. Phillips

Recruitment influences populations and communities of marine organisms to varying degrees and across a range of spatial scales. We hypothesised that recruitment plays a role in maintaining different intertidal invertebrate assemblages between two nearby locations in New Zealand (Wellington Harbour and the south coast), long reported to have dramatically different communities (with greater cover of sessile invertebrates in the Harbour). Sites in Wellington Harbour were hypothesised to have higher monthly recruitment rates of mussels and barnacles and greater barnacle colonisation after 1 year. Surveys were conducted to quantify community differences. In Wellington Harbour, the mid-intertidal zone was dominated by the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and the barnacle Chamaesipho columna and the high intertidal zone by C. columna. In contrast, on the south coast mussels were almost completely absent from both tidal heights and barnacles (predominantly Chamaesipho brunnea) were sparse. In the high zone, monthly recruitment and long term colonisation (over 1 year) of barnacles was much greater in the Harbour; in the mid-intertidal zone, mussel recruitment was up to two orders of magnitude greater in the Harbour than the south coast. Species-specific recruitment patterns differed between the locations, however and were consistent with those of adult abundance.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robine Helena Jannigje Leeuwis ◽  
Anthony Kurt Gamperl

The high intertidal zone is home to an incredible variety of marine animals, as it offers an escape from low intertidal/subtidal predation and competition, among other advantages. However, this area of the shore also comes with many tide-driven and emersion-associated environmental stressors, such as desiccation, high temperatures and freezing stress, hypoxia, salinity fluctuations, nitrogenous waste accumulation, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, wave and ice disturbance, and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) toxicity. This review explores the diversity of evolutionary adaptations and plastic phenotypic responses that high intertidal animals use to cope with these challenges. Examples are provided of behavioural, morphological, physiological and biochemical adaptations/responses, along with some of the underlying molecular mechanisms that have been elucidated to date. Adaptations of many different worms, anemones, molluscs, crustaceans and fishes are highlighted. Many adaptations and mechanisms of plasticity are universal among animal phyla, and some are multifunctional (serve more than one function) or provide tolerance to multiple stressors (i.e., ‘cross-tolerance’). High intertidal animals have received considerable attention by scientists, given their accessibility and that they can provide valuable insights in the transition from a marine to a terrestrial lifestyle. Nevertheless, further research is needed to understand the adaptations/responses of these animals more thoroughly, and the future holds great promise for accomplishing this with recent advances in epigenetics, transcriptomics, protein biochemistry and other molecular tools.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 715-724
Author(s):  
Rouane Brokensha ◽  
Jannes Landschoff ◽  
Anton du Plessis ◽  
Charles L Griffiths

Abstract The tanaid Pagurapseudes dentatus was described from a male collected from the intertidal zone at False Bay, South Africa. The description was poorly illustrated, incomplete, did not describe the female or juvenile stages, and gave no information on its habitat. The species was rediscovered and found to be locally abundant at locations in South Africa, where it inhabits vacant gastropod shells. We redescribe P. dentatus by fully illustrating and describing its morphological characters, including the copulatory female and manca II stages. Pagurapseudes dentatus differs from similar species by a long seta on the basis of the characteristically elongated pereopod-1, as well as its singular distal pectinate setae on the propodus and adjacent to the dactylus of pereopod 6. Nano-CT scanning was used to illustrate and document the unusual mode of occupation of empty gastropod shells by the species. It was found (N = 139) occupying shells of 19 gastropod species from 10 different genera, occurring most abundantly in shells of Tricolia Risso, 1826, Burnupena Iredale, 1918, Assiminea Fleming, 1828, and Gibbula Risso, 1826. It forms dense populations under intertidal boulders, where it co-occurs with, and may compete for empty shells, with at least two common species of hermit crabs.


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