Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-4hhp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-16T10:09:49.543Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Ecological considerations and niche differentiation between juvenile and adult black limpets (Cymbula nigra)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2010

G.A. Rivera-Ingraham ,
F. Espinosa  and
J.C. García-Gómez
G.A. Rivera-Ingraham*
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Departamento de Fisiología y Zoología, Avenida Reina Mercedes 6, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012, Sevilla, Spain
F. Espinosa
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Departamento de Fisiología y Zoología, Avenida Reina Mercedes 6, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012, Sevilla, Spain
J.C. García-Gómez
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Departamento de Fisiología y Zoología, Avenida Reina Mercedes 6, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012, Sevilla, Spain
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: G.A. Rivera-Ingraham, Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Departamento de Fisiología y Zoología, Avenida Reina Mercedes 6, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012, Sevilla, Spain email: grivera@us.es
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The endangered patellid limpet Cymbula nigra is present in the extreme western Mediterranean, yet the species has rarely been the subject of study in this region. The aim of the present research is to describe the ecology, distribution and population structure of the species in an area of the Mediterranean coast of North Africa (Ceuta). Results indicate that the species prevails in waters that have an important Atlantic influence. Furthermore, different shell morphologies are distinguished, and in consequence, a statistical analysis is carried out based on morphometric data. Based on maximum shell length, height/length coefficients and shell morphology, a total of three significantly different morphologies are described. Furthermore, considering physical parameters such as height over seawater level and average substratum inclination, juveniles resulted to be clearly segregated from the two other groups. Additionally, no differences were found regarding the topography of the substrate used by juvenile and adult individuals, although the colonized surfaces are significantly smoother than those where Patella ferruginea is present.

Keywords

Cymbulapatellid limpetintertidalintraspecific segregation
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 91 , Issue 1 , February 2011 , pp. 191 - 198
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Beaumont, A.R. and Wei, J.H.C. (1991) Morphological and genetic variation in the Antarctic limpet Nacella concinna (Strebel, 1908). Journal of Molluscan Studies 57, 443–450.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beck, M.W. (2000) Separating the elements of habitat structure: independent effects of habitat complexity and structural components on rocky intertidal gastropods. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 249, 29–49.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Branch, G.M. (1975) Mechanisms reducing intraspecific competition in Patella spp.: migration, differentiation and territorial behavior. Journal of Animal Ecology 44, 575–600.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Branch, G.M. (1981) The biology of limpets. Oceanography and Marine Biology: an Annual Review 19, 235–379.Google Scholar
Burke, R.D. (1984) Pheromonal control of metamorphosis in the Pacific sand dollar, Dendraster excentricus. Science 27, 442–443.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Christiaens, J. (1983) The genus Patella along the coast of Malaga (Spain). La Conchiglia 15, 15–17.Google Scholar
Clarke, K.R. and Warwick, R.M. (2001) Changes in marine communities: an approach to statistical analysis and interpretation. Plymouth: PRIMER-E.Google Scholar
Corte-Real, H.B.S.M., Hawkins, S.J. and Thorpe, J.P. (1996) Population differentiation and taxonomic status of the exploited limpet Patella candei in the Macaronesian islands (Azores, Madeira, Canaries). Marine Biology 125, 141–152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Droüet, H. (1858) Mollusques Marins des Iles Açores. Paris: Baillière.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Espinosa, F., Guerra-García, J.M., Fa, D. and García-Gómez, J.C. (2006) Effects on competition on an endangered limpet Patella ferruginea (Gastropoda: Patellidae): implications for conservation. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 330, 482–492.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Espinosa, F., Guerra-García, J.M. and García-Gómez, J.C. (2007) Sewage pollution and extinction risk: an endangered limpet as bioindicator? Biodiversity and Conservation 16, 377–397.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frenkiel, L. (1975) Contribution à l’étude des cycles de reproduction des Patellidae en Algérie. Pubblicacione de la Stazzione Zoologica di Napoli 39, 153–189.Google Scholar
Gofas, S., Pinto Alonso, J. and Brandao, M. (1988) Conchas e moluscos de Angola. Angola: Universidade Agostinho Neto—Elf Aquitaine.Google Scholar
Grandfils, R. and Vega, R. (1982) Il genere Patella lungo la costa di Malaga (Spagna). La Conchiglia 14, 6–8.Google Scholar
Grandfils, R. and Vega, R. (1984) Presencia de Patella nigra (da Costa, 1771) en las costas de Málaga. Aspectos morfológicos-radulares. Iberus 4, 59–73.Google Scholar
Koufopanou, V., Reid, D.G., Ridgway, S.A. and Thomas, R.H. (1999) A molecular phylogeny of the patellid limpets (Gastropoda: Patellidae) and its implications for the origins of their antitropical distribution. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 11, 138–156.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mandelbrot, B.B. (1967) How long is the coast of Britain? Statistical self-similarity and fractional dimension. Science 155, 636–638.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martínez, J.L. and Peñas, A. (1996) Fauna malacológica de Caleta, Mijas Costa, Málaga. Malakos 5, 73–92.Google Scholar
Moreno, D. (2006) Tesoros sumergidos: la flora y faunas marinas. In Paracuellos, M., Nevado, J.C. and Mota, J.F. (eds) Entre África y Europa. Historia natural de la Isla de Alborán. Sevilla: RENPA, Consejería de Medio Ambiental, Junta de Andalucía, pp. 67–85.Google Scholar
Moreno, D. and Arroyo, M.C. (2008) Patella ferruginea Gmelin, 1791. In Barea-Azcón, J.M., Ballesteros, E. and Moreno, D. (eds) Libro Rojo de los Invertebrados de Andalucía. Volume 1. Sevilla: Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucía, pp. 280–289.Google Scholar
Nakai, S., Miura, O., Maki, M. and Chiba, S. (2006) Morphological and habitat divergence in the intertidal limpet Patelloida pygmaea. Marine Biology 149, 515–523.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nakano, T. and Ozawa, T. (2004) Phylogeny and historical biogeography of limpets of the order Patellogastropoda based on mitochondrial DNA sequences. Journal of Molluscan Studies 70, 31–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nolan, C.P. (1991) Size, shape and shell morphology in the Antarctic limpet Nacella concinna at Signy Island, south Orkney Islands. Journal of Molluscan Studies 57, 225–238.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nordsieck, F. and García-Talavera, F. (1979) Moluscos marinos de Canarias y Madeira (Gastropoda). Tenerife: Aula de Cultura del Cabildo Insular de Tenerife.Google Scholar
Pasteur-Humbert, C. (1962) Les mollusques marins testacés du Maroc. Catalogue non critique. I. Gasterópodes. Travaux de l'Institut Scientifique Chérifien. Série Zoologie 23, 1–245.Google Scholar
Peñas, A., Rolán, E., Luque, A.A., Templado, J., Moreno, D., Rubio, F., Salas, C., Sierra, A. and Gofas, A. (2006) Moluscos marinos de la Islas de Alborán. Iberus 24, 23–151.Google Scholar
Poppe, G.T. and Goto, Y. (1991) European seashells. Volume I. Poliplacophora, Caudofoveata, Solenogastra, Gastropoda. Wiesbaden: Verlag Christa Hemmen.Google Scholar
Renault, L. and Moueza, M. (1971) Contribution a l'etude de Patella safiana Lamarck. Haliotis 1, 19–20.Google Scholar
Rolán, E. (2005) Malacological fauna from the Cape Verde archipelago. Part 1. Polyplacophora and Gastropoda. Hackenheim: Conch Books.Google Scholar
Sá-Pinto, A., Branco, M., Harris, D.J. and Alexandrino, P. (2005) Phylogeny and phylogeography of the genus Patella based on mitochondrial DNA sequence data. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 325, 95–110.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shotwell, J.A. (1950) Distribution of volume and relative linear measurement changes in Acmaea, the limpet. Ecology 31, 51–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spada, G. and Maldonado, A. (1974) Nota preliminare sulle specie di molluschi a diffusione prevalentemente antlantica e presenti anche in Mediterraneo nel mare di Alboran. Quaderni della Civica Stazione Idrobiologica di Milano 5, 51–69.Google Scholar
Steneck, R.S. (1982) A limpet–coralline alga association: adaptations and defenses between a selective herbivore and its prey. Ecology 63, 507–522.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stephenson, T.A. and Stephenson, A. (1954) Life between tide-marks in North America. III A. Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island: description of the region. Journal of Ecology 42, 14–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stephenson, T.A., Stephenson, A. and Day, J.H. (1940) The South African intertidal zone and its relation to ocean currents. VIII. Lamberts Bay and the west coast. Annals of the Natal Museum 9, 345–380.Google Scholar
Templado, J., Calvo, M., García, A., Luque, A.A., Maldonado, M. and Moro, L. (2004) Guía de invertebrados y peces marinos protegidos por la legislación nacional e internacional. Madrid: Organismo Autónomo Parques Nacionales, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente.Google Scholar
Templado, J., Calvo, M., Moreno, D., Flores, A., Conde, F., Abad, R., Rubio, J., López-Fe, C.M. and Ortiz, M. (2006) Flora y fauna de la Reserva Marina y Reserva de Pesca de la Isla de Alborán. Madrid: Secretaría General de Pesca Marítima, MAPA.Google Scholar
Underwood, A.J. (1997) Experiments in ecology. Their logical design and interpretation using analysis of variance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Vermeij, G.J. (1972) Intraspecific shore-level size gradients in intertidal molluscs. Ecology 53, 693–700.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, G.A. and Morritt, D. (1995) Habitat partitioning and thermal tolerance in a tropical limpet, Cellana grata. Marine Ecology Progress Series 124, 89–103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar