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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: [email protected]
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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

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