Temperature of limpets in the rocky intertidal zone:Effects of caging and substratum

Hayworth, Anita M.; Quinn, James

doi:10.4319/lo.1990.35.4.0967

Cited by 14 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Another organism that preys on C. dalli and creates empty tests is larval Oedoparena (Harley and Lopez 2003) which was observed at low densities in our study plots. One artifact of installing cages in an area is that it provides cool, moist microhabitats (Hayworth and Quinn 1990). This could attract Oedoparena, nemerteans, and other mesopredators to the study plots, increasing the rate of predation and therefore the number of empty tests (Harley and Lopez 2003).…”

Section: Evects Of Nucella Ostrina Predationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-linear density-dependent effects of an intertidal ecosystem engineer

Harley

O’Riley

2010

Oecologia

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Ecosystem engineering is an important process in a variety of ecosystems. However, the relationship between engineer density and engineering impact remains poorly understood. We used experiments and a mathematical model to examine the role of engineer density in a rocky intertidal community in northern California. In this system, the whelk Nucella ostrina preys on barnacles (Balanus glandula and Chthamalus dalli), leaving empty barnacle tests as a resource (favorable microhabitat) for other species. Field experiments demonstrated that N. ostrina predation increased the availability of empty tests of both barnacle species, reduced the density of the competitively dominant B. glandula, and indirectly increased the density of the competitively inferior C. dalli. Empty barnacle tests altered microhabitat humidity, but not temperature, and presumably provided a refuge from wave action. The herbivorous snail Littorina plena was positively associated with empty test availability in both observational comparisons and experimental manipulations of empty test availability, and L. plena density was elevated in areas with foraging N. ostrina. To explore the effects of variation in N. ostrina predation, we constructed a demographic matrix model for barnacles in which we varied predation intensity. The model predicted that number of available empty tests increases with predation intensity to a point, but declines when predation pressure was strong enough to severely reduce adult barnacle densities. The modeled number of available empty tests therefore peaked at an intermediate level of N. ostrina predation. Non-linear relationships between engineer density and engineer impact may be a generally important attribute of systems in which engineers influence the population dynamics of the species that they manipulate.

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Section: Evects Of Nucella Ostrina Predationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-linear density-dependent effects of an intertidal ecosystem engineer

Harley

O’Riley

2010

Oecologia

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“…Several potential confounding effects (artifacts) induced by the use of cages/enclosures have been reported in the literature (e.g., Hayworth andQuinn 1990, Quinn andKeough 1993). By using cage controls, we controlled for the potential side effects of caging on in situ primary production, temperature, and limpet move- ments and survival.…”

Section: Exclusion Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maintenance of an Exceptional Intertidal Grazer Biomass in South Africa: Subsidy by Subtidal Kelps

Bustamante¹,

Branch²,

Eekhout³

1995

Ecology

208

199

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Dense populations of patellid limpets characterize the mid— to low—intertidal communities of the southwestern rocky shores of South Africa. Patella argenvillei and P. granatina reach average densities up to 200/m2, representing in some cases °10—13 kg/m2 of whole wet biomass, and attain size up to 100—mm shell length. Traditionally these limpets have been regarded as generalized grazers, but in facts they have highly specialized feeding mechanisms. P. granatina is found primarily on the mid— to low shore of sheltered boulder—bays, while P. argenvillei forms a conspicuous monospecific belt low on semiexposed shores in association with adjacent kelp beds. Both species are the dominant occupiers of space in their respective habitats. We have investigated the main pathways and supply of food necessary to maintain limpet biomasses as high as this. Epilithic micro— and macroalgae and the kelps Ecklonia maxima and Laminaria pallida are common sources of food for these two limpet species. Gut contents show that kelp presents >50% of the total diet of both species. An abundant source of food is provided to P. granatina by drifting kelp and seaweed debris, and to P. argenvillei by nearly attached kelp plants, which they actively prune. Differences in the timing and method of feeding exist. P. granatina captures drifting kelp and seaweeds while underwater during incoming and outgoing tides, and P, argenvillei prunes the fronds of nearby attached kelp plants during the rising tide. P. argenvillei feed collectively, several individuals sharing a piece of kelp trapped by a single limpet. This overcomes the intraspecific competition normally experienced in high density limpet populations, and the maximum size of P. argenvillei rises with density. P. granatina does not feed collectively and its maximum size declines with density. An experimental exclusion of kelp from the limpets' diets resulted in significantly increased mortality and a reduction in body mass. Subtidal production of kelp fronds subsidizes populations of both limpet species and is vital to the maintenance of their remarkably high biomasses. Supplied with a suberabundance of food, both species achieve such high "packing" that primary space becomes their limiting factor. The trophic subsidy provided by kelps has important secondary consequences since the dense limpet populations powerfully influence intertidal community structure and function.

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“…Darker organisms absorb more heat from solar irradiance and do so faster [70] but also lose heat faster through convection [71]. Taller shells, with a more circular aperture, have a smaller contact area with the substratum, reducing heat gain through conduction [51,53,72], and, being taller, project into faster wind velocities, increasing heat loss through convection [69]. Although the wind has a cooling effect on the mussels themselves [30], because of the architectural complexity and intricate matrix of byssal threads within mussel beds, the effects of wind on the infauna would be negligible.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Euendolithic Infestation of Mussel Shells Indirectly Improves the Thermal Buffering Offered by Mussel Beds to Associated Molluscs, but One Size Does Not Fit All

et al. 2023

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Mussel beds form important intertidal matrices that provide thermal buffering to associated invertebrate communities, especially under stressful environmental conditions. Mussel shells are often colonized by photoautotrophic euendoliths, which have indirect conditional beneficial thermoregulatory effects on both solitary and aggregated mussels by increasing the albedo of the shell. We investigated whether euendolithic infestation of artificial mussel beds (Perna perna) influences the body temperatures of four associated mollusc species during simulated periods of emersion, using shell temperature obtained via non-invasive infrared thermography as a proxy. Shell temperatures of the limpet Scutellastra granularis and the chiton Acanthochitona garnoti were higher in non-infested than infested mussel beds during simulated low tides under high solar irradiance and low wind speeds. However, this was not the case for the limpet Helcion pectunculus or the top shell Oxystele antoni. Morphological differences in mollusc shape and colour could, in part, explain this contrast between species. Our results indicated that endolith-induced improvements in humidity and temperature in mussel beds could benefit associated molluscs. The beneficial thermal buffering offered by euendolithic infestation of the mussel beds was effective only if the organism was under heat stress. With global climate change, the indirect beneficial effect of euendolithic infestation for invertebrate communities associated with mussel beds may mitigate intertidal local extinction events triggered by marine heatwaves.

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Temperature of limpets in the rocky intertidal zone:Effects of caging and substratum

Cited by 14 publications

References 7 publications

Non-linear density-dependent effects of an intertidal ecosystem engineer

Non-linear density-dependent effects of an intertidal ecosystem engineer

Maintenance of an Exceptional Intertidal Grazer Biomass in South Africa: Subsidy by Subtidal Kelps

Euendolithic Infestation of Mussel Shells Indirectly Improves the Thermal Buffering Offered by Mussel Beds to Associated Molluscs, but One Size Does Not Fit All

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