The ecology of six species of littoral gastropods. III. Diurnal and seasonal variations in densities and patterns of distribution in three environments

O'gower, A. K.; Meyer, GR

doi:10.1071/mf9710035

Cited by 8 publications

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“…O'Gower and Meyer (1971) found M. marginalba to b e more abundant at the edges of pools than in the pools or on rock which dried at low tide. In the present paper, the distribution and dispersion of this whelk in the Sydney area are described with respect to shore level, position in a wave-exposure gradient, presence of predatory crabs and densities of the prey of Morula.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and dispersion of the predatory intertidal gastropod Morula marginalba

Moran¹

1985

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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In New South Wales, the muricid gastropod Morula marginalba occurs intertidally on most rocky shores in lower estuaries and on the open coast. M marginalba is absent from most wavebattered headlands and shores made up of massed large boulders. Experiments showed that physical dislodgement by waves was a sufficient explanation for absence of the whelks from areas of strong wave action. The xanthid crab Ozius truncatus is abundant on boulder shores and, in the laboratory. preyed on M. marginalba by breaking its shell. The crabs ate many more small than large snails. There is a size-related incidence of chipped shells in populations of M. marginalba adjacent to the boulder habitat, suggesting that the effects of predation by crabs on the snails ranges from slight and sizedependent mortality through to total exclusion. At times the snails form aggregations. Unlike some other species of muricid gastropods, M. marginalba did not aggregate to breed, feed or shelter from heavy waves. Clumping behaviour was positively related to the density of non-feeding snails. Whelks fed most when periods of submersion were longest, either due to spring tides or to big waves washing the shore. Since aggregations invariably occurred in pools or crevices, snails were probably sheltering from the effects of long periods of emersion and aggregations were seen when there were enough sheltering snails to form clusters. The snails changed their habitat with increasing body size, from moist, low-shore areas with very small prey, through to a higher ~ntertidal habltat with large prey. Preferred barnacle prey were frequently abundant higher on the shore than the snails were naturally found. Snails caged at these higher levels were able to survive and feed, though at a reduced rate compared with those lower on the shore. These findings support a model of dispersion in which snails tend to remain at the lowest shore level at which suitable prey are sufficiently available: availability being a function of feeding rate and therefore shore height as well as abundance of prey.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and dispersion of the predatory intertidal gastropod Morula marginalba

Moran¹

1985

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The recent prehistoric exploitation of edible mussel in Aboriginal shell middens in southern New South Wales

Sullivan

1987

Archaeology in Oceania

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Analysis of patterns of dispersion of intertidal prosobranch gastropods in relation to macroalgae and rock-pools

Underwood

1976

Oecologia

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The patterns of dispersion of Nerita atramentosa, Austrocochlea constricta, Bembicium nanum and Cellana tramoserica are analysed from quadrat samples taken between June 1972 and June 1973. In each quadrat, the proportion of animals in each of two substrata, the encrusting alga Peyssonelia gunniana and small pools, was recorded, with the proportional area of cover of each substratum, height on the shore, density of the species and the time of sampling. Multiple regression and covariance analysis showed that, in all cases, there was a linear relationship between proportion in a substratum and proportional area of substratum. No other variables were significant.Juvenile Nerita and Austrocochlea showed preferences for both substrata. Adult Nerita and all Bembicium were dispersed at random with respect to both substrata. Adult Austrocochlea were randomly dispersed with respect to Peyssonelia, but showed a preference for water. Cellana showed a preference for water and against Peyssonelia. These microhabitat preferences are discussed in relation to previously described effects of substrata on the densities of these four species.

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The ecology of six species of littoral gastropods. III. Diurnal and seasonal variations in densities and patterns of distribution in three environments

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

Distribution and dispersion of the predatory intertidal gastropod Morula marginalba

Distribution and dispersion of the predatory intertidal gastropod Morula marginalba

The recent prehistoric exploitation of edible mussel in Aboriginal shell middens in southern New South Wales

Analysis of patterns of dispersion of intertidal prosobranch gastropods in relation to macroalgae and rock-pools

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