Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T23:09:20.009Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Seasonal Growth Studies of Intertidal Gastropods From Shell Micro-Growth Band Measurements, Including A Comparison With Alternative Methods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

S. U. K. Ekaratne  and
D. J. Crisp
S. U. K. Ekaratne
Affiliation:
N.E.R.C. Unit of Marine Invertebrate Biology, Marine Science Laboratories, Menai Bridge, Gwynedd, LL EH
D. J. Crisp
Affiliation:
N.E.R.C. Unit of Marine Invertebrate Biology, Marine Science Laboratories, Menai Bridge, Gwynedd, LL EH
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Tidal micro-growth bands were used to study the annual cycle of shell growth of individuals dated predominantly by the immersion mark technique, in three common intertidal gastropods Nucella lapillus (L.), Littorina littorea (L.) and Patella vulgata L. growing naturally in the Menai Straits. Growth in all three species approximated to the von Bertalanaffy type. All three species grew throughout the year, N. lapillus and L. littorea with early autumn and summer maxima, respectively, and P. vulgata with two maxima, one in late spring and the other in early autumn. P. vulgata alone were observed during exposure to a 6-day period of sub-zero air temperature in January 1982 when shell growth was totally interrupted. In Nucella and Littorina shell growth was found to be closely related to ambient temperature but in Patella there was a summer depression in growth. The file technique when combined with the immersion mark technique in date marking, was found to be inferior to the immersion mark technique on its own, since filing occasionally affected growth adversely.

From among the factors determining the seasonal changes in growth rate, temperature was of major importance. Seasonal reproduction may also have an influence, especially in P. vulgata where gametogenesis coincides with the depression in growth rate during summer months.

Alternative methods used in gastropod growth studies were compared. In the light of inadequacies associated with other methods of measuring growth, micro-growth band measurements in gastropods offers a new method with high resolution suitable both for short and long-term growth studies. It has potential also for ecological and physiological aspects of growth measurements.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 64 , Issue 1 , February 1984 , pp. 183 - 210
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1984

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

Allen, J. A. 1963. Ecology and functional morphology of molluscs. Oceanography and Marine Biology, an Annual Review, 1, 253–288.Google Scholar
Arnold, D. C. 1957. The response of the limpet, Patella vulgata L. to waters of different salinities. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 36, 121–128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arnold, D. C. 1959. The reactions of the limpet, Patella vulgata L., to certain of the ionic constituents of sea water. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 38. 569–580.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barnes, H.Barnes, M. & Finlayson, D. M. 1963. The seasonal changes in body weight, biochemical composition, and oxygen uptake of two common boreo-arctic cirripedes, Balanus balanoides and B. balanus. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 43, 185–211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bayne, B. L. & Scullard, C. 1978. Rates of feeding by Thais (Nucella) lapillus (L.). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 32, 113–129.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bertalanaffy, L.Von, 1938. A quantitative theory of organic growth (inquiries on growth laws.II). Human Biology, 10, 181–213.Google Scholar
Black, R. 1973. Growth rates of intertidal molluscs as indicators of unexpected incidents of pollution. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 30, 1385–1388.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blackmore, D. T. 1969. Studies of Patella vulgata L. I. Growth, reproduction and zonal distribution. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 3, 200–213.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boyden, C. R. & Zeldis, J. R. 1979. Preliminary observations using an attached microphonic sensor to study feeding behaviour of an intertidal limpet. Estuarine and Coastal Marine Science, 9, 759–769.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Branch, G. M. 1981. The biology of limpets: physical factors, energy flow, and ecological interactions. Oceanography and Marine Biology, an Annual Review, 19, 235–380.Google Scholar
Bryan, G. W. 1969. The effects of oil-spill removers (‘detergents’) on the gastropod Nucella lapillus on a rocky shore and in the laboratory. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 49, 1067–1092. Coastal Surveillance Unit, 1979. Fourth Report of the Coastal Surveillance Unit. 187 pp. Department of Marine Biology, University College of North Wales, Menai Bridge, U.K.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Connell, J. H. 1961. Effects of competition, predation by Thais lapillus, and other factors on natural populations of the barnacle Balanus balanoides. Ecological Monographs, 31, 61–104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crisp, D. J. 1971. Energy flow measurements. In Methods for the Study of Marine Benthos (ed. N. A. Holme and A. D. Mclntyre,) pp. 197–279. Blackwell Scientific Publications. [IBP Handbook no. 16.]Google Scholar
Crisp, D. J. & Davies, P. A. 1955. Observations in vivo on the breeding of Elminius modestus grown on glass slides. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 34, 357–380.,CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crisp, D. J. & Patel, B. 1961. The interaction between breeding and growth rate in the barnacle, Elminius modestus Darwin. Limnology and Oceanography, 6, 105–115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crothers, J. H. 1977. Some observations on the growth of the common dog-whelk, Nucella lapillus (Prosobranchia: Muricacea) in the laboratory. Journal of Conchology, 29, 157–162.Google Scholar
Ekaratne, S. U. K. & Crisp, D. J. 1982. Tidal micro-growth bands in intertidal gastropod shells, with an evaluation of band-dating techniques. Proceedings of the Royal Society (B), 214, 305–323.Google Scholar
Eekaratne, S. U. K. & Crisp, D. J. 1983. A geometric analysis of growth in gastropod shells, with particular reference to turbinate forms. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 63, 777–797.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feare, C. J. 1970a. Aspects of the ecology of an exposed shore population of dog whelks Nucella lapillus (L.). Oecologia, 5, 1–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feare, C. J. 1970b. The reproductive cycle of the dog whelk (Nucella lapillus). Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London, 39, 125–137.Google Scholar
Feare, C. J. 1970c. A note on the methods employed by crabs in breaking shells of dog whelks {Nucella lapillus). Naturalist, 913, 67–68.Google Scholar
Feare, C. J. 1971. The adaptive significance of aggregation behaviour in the dogwhelk Nucella lapillus (L.). Oecologia, 7, 117–126.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fretter, V. & Graham, A. 1962. British Prosobranch Molluscs: Their Functional Anatomy and Ecology. 755 pp. London: Ray Society.Google Scholar
Fretter, V. & Graham, A. 1976. The prosobranch molluscs of Britain and Denmark. I. Pleurotremaceae, Fissurellaceae and Patellaceae. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 42, supplement 1, 37PP.Google Scholar
Grahame, J. 1973. Breeding energetics of Littorina littorea (L.) (Gastropoda: Prosobranchiata). Journal of Animal Ecology, 42, 391–403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gruffydd, Ll. D. & Baker, W. F. 1969. An integrated multiple unit controlled temperature system for sea water aquaria. Laboratory Practice, 18, 300–304.Google Scholar
Hadlock, R. P. 1980. Alarm response of the intertidal snail Littorina littorea (L.) to predation by the crab Carcinus maenas (L.) Biological Bulletin. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass., 159, 269ndash;279.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harris, M. P. 1965. The food of some Larus gulls. Ibis, 107, 43–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, R. N. 1972. Annual production of two Nova Scotian populations of Nucella lapillus (L.). Oecologia, 8, 356–370.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hughes, R. N. 1980. Population dynamics, growth and reproductive rates of Littorina nigrolineata Gray from a moderately sheltered locality in North Wales. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 44, 211228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, R. N. & Elner, R. W. 1979. Tactics of a predator, Carcinus maenas, and morphological response of the prey, Nucella lapillus. Journal of Animal Ecology, 48, 65–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, R. N. & Roberts, D. J. 1980. Growth and reproductive rates of Littorina neritoides (L.) in North Wales. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 60, 591–599.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kinne, O. 1963. The effects of temperature and salinity on marine and brackish water animals. Oceanography and Marine Biology, an Annual Review, 1, 301–340.Google Scholar
Kinne, O. 1970. Environmental factors: temperature: invertebrates. In Marine Ecology, vol. 1, pp. 407–514. Wiley Interscience.Google Scholar
Largen, M. J. 1967. The influence of water temperature upon the life of the dog-whelk Thais lapillus (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia). Journal of Animal Ecology, 36, 207–21. London Weather Centre, 1981. Daily Weather Reports for December 1981 and January 1982 for Colwyn Bay and Valley. London Weather Centre, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lumb, C. M. 1981. Botany results. In Report 7, Coastal Surveillance Unit, pp. 33–55. Marine Science Laboratories, Menai Bridge, U.K.Google Scholar
Moore, H. B. 1936. The biology of Purpura lapillus I. Shell variation in relation to environment. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 21, 61–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, H. B. 1937. The biology of Littorina littorea. I. Growth of the shell and tissues, spawning, length of life and mortality. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 21, 721–742.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, H. B. 1938a. The biology of Purpura lapillus. I. Growth. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 23, 57–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, H. B. 1938b. The biology of Purpura lapillus. 111. Life history and relation to environmental factors. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 23, 67–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morgan, P. R. 1972. The influence of prey availability in the distribution and predatory behaviour of Nucella lapillus (L.). Journal of Animal Ecology, 41, 257–274.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newell, R. C. & Bayne, B. L. 1973. A review on temperature and metabolic acclimation in intertidal marine invertebrates. Netherlands Journal of Sea Research, 7, 421–433.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newell, R. C. & Branch, G. M. 1980. The influence of temperature on maintenance of metobolic energy balance in marine invertebrates. Advances in Marine Biology, 17, 329–396.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newell, R. C.Pye, V. I. & Ahsanullah, M. 1971. Factors affecting the feeding rate of the winkle Littorina littorea. Marine Biology, 9, 138–144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newkirk, G. F. & Doyle, R. W. 1975. Genetic analysis of shell-shape variation in Littorina saxatilis on an environmental cline. Marine Biology, 30, 227–237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Orton, J. H. 1928a. Observations on Patella vulgata.l. Sex-phenomena breeding and shell growth. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 15, 851–862.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Orton, J. H. 1928b. Observations on Patella vulgata. II. Rate of growth of the shell. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 15, 863–874.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Orton, J. H.Southward, A. J. & Dodd, J. M. 1956. Studies on the biology of limpets. II. The breeding of Patella vulgata L. in Britain. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 35, 149–176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pettitt, C. 1975. A review of the predators of Littorina, especially those of L. saxatilis (Olivi) (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia). Journal of Conchology, 28, 343–357.Google Scholar
Phillips, D. W. 1981. Life-history features of the marine intertidal limpet Notoacmea scutum (Gastropoda) in Central California. Marine Biology, 64, 95–103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reimchen, T. E. 1982. Shell size divergence in Littorina mariae and L. obtusata and predation by crabs. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 60, 687–695.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richardson, C. A.Crisp, D. J.Runham, N. W. & Gruffydd, Ll. D. 1980a. The use of tidal growth bands in the shell of Cerastoderma edule to measure seasonal growth rates under cool temperate and sub-arctic conditions. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 60, 977–989.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richardson, C. A.Crisp, D. J. & Runham, N. W. 1980b. Factors influencing shell growth in Cerastoderma edule. Proceedings of the Royal Society (B), 210, 513–531.Google Scholar
Roberts, D. J. & Hughes, R. N. 1980. Growth and reproductive rates of Littorina rudis from three contrasted shores in North Wales, U.K. Marine Biology, 58, 47–54.Google Scholar
Smith, J. E. 1981. The natural history and taxonomy of shell variation in the periwinkles Littorina saxatilis and Littorina rudis. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 61, 215–241.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Snedecor, G. W. & Cochran, W. G. 1967. Statistical Methods, 6th edition. 593pp. U.S.A.: Iowa University Press.Google Scholar
Spight, T. M. 1973. Ontogeny, environment, and shape of a marine snail Thais lamellosa Gmelin. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 13, 215–228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, D. F.Arthur, M. A.Jones, D. S. & Healy-Williams, N. 1982. Seasonality and mean annual sea surface temperatures from isotopic and sclerochronological records. Nature, London, 296, 432–434.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, E. E. 1964a. The growth and distribution of Littorina littorea (L.) on a rocky shore in Wales. Journal of Animal Ecology, 33, 413–432.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, E. E. 1964b. The growth and distribution of Gibbula umbilicalis (da Costa) on a rocky shore in Wales. Journal of Animal Ecology, 33, 433–442.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williamson, P. & Kendall, M. A. 1981. Population age structure and growth of the trochid Monodonta lineata determined from shell rings. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 61 1011–1026.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wolcott, T. G. 1973. Physiological ecology and intertidal zonation in limpets (Acmaea): a critical look at ‘limiting factors’. Biological Bulletin. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass., 108, 359–365.Google Scholar
Wright, J. R. 1977. The Construction of Energy Budgets for Three Intertidal Rocky Shore Gastropods, Patella vulgata, Littorina littorea and Nucella lapillus. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Liverpool.Google Scholar
Yamaguchi, M. 1977. Shell growth and mortality rates in the coral reef gastropod Cerithium nodulosum in Pago Bay, Guam, Mariana Islands. Marine Biology, 44, 249–263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar