Limpets as prey: Lipophrys pholis choice for size     

Ana C. Silva  Ana C. Amador  Sónia Brazão  Claúdia Faria  Diana Boaventura 《Marine Ecology》2010,31(4):525-532

Patellid limpets are key species on rocky shores, structuring intertidal assemblages through their grazing. Their role as prey for fish is, however, often overlooked in studies of intertidal ecosystem functioning. The shanny Lipophrys pholis is a common predator of limpets on rocky shores in Northern Europe and, in this study, we examined the characteristics of its predation on limpets based on prey size. The limpet size range that adult L. pholis (10–12.5 cm) can eat was examined in the laboratory using Patella depressa in 0.2 cm classes, varying between 0.5 cm and 3.0 cm in maximum shell length. There was a limpet size refuge above 1.8 cm, while all smaller sizes were readily consumed by the shanny. The predator attacking behaviour was also examined and found to vary with prey size. Limpets up to 0.8 cm were crushed by the jaw‐constricting force and eaten whole, whereas larger prey were prised from the substratum and the body subsequently separated from the shell. To examine whether there was a L. pholis preference for P. depressa size, a two‐stage laboratory experiment was done using two size classes defined as small (0.7–0.8 cm maximum shell length) and large (1.5–1.6 cm maximum shell length). In the first stage, the predator was given each limpet size class separately. In the second stage, the fish was given a choice between the two classes. Lipophrys pholis was shown to have a preference for the large size class (1.5–1.6 cm). The average number of limpets consumed by the shanny was examined for the duration of one high‐tide typical of the central region of Portugal (≈ 4 h). On average, approximately five limpets (up to an eight limpet maximum) were consumed. The present study shows that L. pholis has a feeding preference based on limpet size, which suggests that the limpet population structure and intra‐ and inter‐specific interactions may be influenced by the shanny predation.  相似文献   

基于多源遥感数据的玛纳斯河流域荒漠化监测     

刘艳  丁涛  阮惠华  林娜 《国土资源遥感》2010,21(1):81-84

利用遥感手段对玛纳斯河流域绿洲-荒漠带的荒漠化状况进行监测。利用不同时期TM数据,在小尺度上分析该区域2000~2008年荒漠化土地的分布特征;基于MODIS陆地遥感产品(NDVI、Albedo及LST),利用多源信息复合法计算荒漠化程度指数;基于TM荒漠化监测结果对该指数进行分级处理,初步建立并验证基于MODIS数据的荒漠化监测评价模型。结果表明:近10 a来,绿洲外围荒漠化土地变化较小,大部分变化发生在绿洲内部,主要为局部荒漠化被开发或因盐碱化过重导致的撂荒;荒漠化监测评价模型对研究区荒漠化程度定量评价精度可达91.25%。  相似文献   

The western Pacific brachyuran (Hemigrapsus sanguineus: Grapsidae), in its new habitat along the Atlantic coast of the United States: geographic distribution and ecology     

McDermott  John J. 《ICES Journal of Marine Science》1998,55(2):289-298

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The Effect of Human Exclusion on the Population Structure of Key-Hole Limpets Fissurella crassa and F. limbata on the Coast of Central Chile     

Doris  Oliva Juan Carlos  Castilla 《Marine Ecology》1986,7(3):201-217

Abstract. We describe the basic ecology of two key-hole limpets, Fissurella crassa and Fissurella limbata , which are heavily harvested by coastal shellfishermen (mariscadores) at the rocky intertidal of central Chile. The ecological role of human predation on these species was assessed. Anthropic exclusion from a stretch of the rocky intertidal at Las Cruces (non-harvested area) for about two and a half years resulted in changes of the densities and size distributions of these fissurelid species as compared to populations in control zones (harvested area). Differential human predation generates, on key-hole limpets, responses of different intensities related to the accessibility of man to the mesohabitats (sheltered platforms, exposed platforms and vertical walls) and fringes of the intertidal (mid-low intertidal and Lessonia nigrescens fringe). Thus, size distributions and mean densities of both fissurelids differ widely between the harvested and non-harvested areas on both platform habitats but not on vertical walls. In the mid-low intertidal fringe, differences are greater than in the less accessible L. nigrescens intertidal fringe. Moreover, we discuss the way in which other species, directly harvested by mariscadores (i. e., the mollusc Concholepas concholepas) can affect the keyhole limpet populations of central Chile rocky shores. Finally, we highlight the ecological role of these limpets on the dynamics of intertidal ecosystems and how they can modify community landscape.  相似文献   

Spatial Variation in the Structure of Kelp Forest Communities Along a Wave Exposure Gradient     

Christopher  Harrold  James  Watanabe Susan  Lisin 《Marine Ecology》1988,9(2):131-156

Abstract. Four sites were sampled in kelp (Macrocysiis pyrifera) forests occupying rocky bottom habitats along a wave exposure gradient in central California. Consistent betwecn-site differences were found in the three major structural elements - the surface canopy, the undcrstory assemblage, and the ground cover/turf assemblage - of kelp forest communities. Macrocysiis pyrifera was found at all four sites. Nereucyslis tuelkeana only at the most exposed site. The understory kelps Laminaria setchellii and Pterygopltora californica were also characteristic of exposed sites. Articulated coralline algae were more abundant at exposed sites than protected, while fleshy red algae showed the opposite pattern. All four study sites were located along 8.5 km of coastline, and thus were assumed to have available to them the same species pool for colonization. The substrate composition was the same and the amount of unconsolidated substrate was similar at all four sites. We suggest that exposure to wave-generated water motion, through its influence on the surface canopy and therefore on the amount of light reaching the bottom, is responsible for these between-site differences.  相似文献   

厦门港岩石岸潮间带软体动物的生态   总被引：2，自引：1，他引：2  

李复雪  蔡立哲 《台湾海峡》1994,13(1):43-51

本文根据１９８２年２月至１９８３年２月在厦门港岩石岩潮间带采集的软体动物，论述了其种类组成，数量分布，生活型及影响软件动物分布的主要环境因子，厦门港岩石岸潮间带共发现软动物５４种。其中，多板类６种，腹足类３３种，双壳类１５种，优势种有僧帽牡蛎，黑荞麦蛤，复瓦小蛇螺，粗糙滨螺等。与６０年代初调查结果比较得出，厦门港岩石岸潮间带的软体动物群落是相对稳定的，潮汐是决定河口结果比较得出，厦门港岩石岩潮间带  相似文献   

喀斯特荒漠化是一种地质—生态灾难   总被引：23，自引：0，他引：23  

杨汉奎 《海洋地质与第四纪地质》1995,15(3):137-147

ＫＤＮ是一种ＧＥＯＬ－ＥＣＯＬ灾难,是发生潮湿的碳酸盐岩区的土壤侵蚀、土地退化与生态系统凋萎,致使人类很难生活在其中。ＫＤＮ是我国四大ＧＥＯＬ－ＥＣＯＬ灾害中最难整治、最难摆脱贫困的地区。本文按国际公认的原则为准,认定“石山化”≠ＫＤＮ,从地质结构性气候、物候和生态系统多因子厘定了ＫＤＮ术语,认定人为扰动与人口超载是其产生的序参量。其过程最迟也是３００多年前明清朝代屯垦开始,近半个世纪加速衰竭,森  相似文献   

厦门港岩相潮间带多毛类的生态   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

郑凤武  吴启泉 《台湾海峡》1997,16(1):85-89

本文根据１９８７年２、５、８、１１月调查资料，研究了厦门港岩相潮间带多毛类的种类组成、种类与数量的垂直分布、季节变化，并与大亚湾多毛类生态进行比较。结果表明，调查区域有多毛类４７种。平均栖息密度６０个／ｍ＾２，平均生物量１．７８ｇ／ｍ＾２，潮汐作用影响多毛类的种数、密度、生物量的垂直分布。多毛类数量的季节变化不甚明显，但冬季的栖息密度和春季的生物量较高。  相似文献   

Comparisons between the influences of habitat, body size and season on the dietary composition of the sparid Acanthopagrus latus in a large marine embayment     

M.E. Platell  H.P. Ang  S.A. Hesp  I.C. Potter 《Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science》2007,72(4):626-634

Seasonal samples from Shark Bay on the west coast of Australia were used to determine (1) the habitats occupied by the juveniles and adults of Acanthopagrus latus in this large subtropical marine embayment and (2) the extent to which the dietary composition of this sparid is influenced by habitat type, body length and season. Sampling was undertaken in two habitat types in which A. latus was known to be abundant, namely mangrove (Avicennia marina) creeks and nearby rocky areas, the latter comprising sandstone boulders and/or limestone reefs. The mean total length ±95% CLs of A. latus was far lower in mangrove creeks, 126 ± 6.1 mm, than in rocky areas, 313 ± 4.7 mm. As A. latus attains maturity at ca. 245 mm, the juveniles of this species typically occupy mangrove areas and then, with increasing body size, move to nearshore rocky areas, where they become adults. The species composition of the food ingested by juvenile A. latus in mangrove creeks differed markedly from that of large juveniles and adults in rocky areas. Based on analyses of data for both habitat types combined, this difference was far greater than that between size classes and season, which was negligible. There were indications, however, that, overall within each habitat, the dietary composition did change seasonally, although not with body size. Acanthopagrus latus fed predominantly on mangrove material, sesarmid crabs and small gastropods in mangrove habitats, and mainly on Brachidontes ustulatus in rocky areas, where this mytilid bivalve is very abundant. The mangrove material, which contributed nearly 40% of its overall dietary volume in mangrove creeks, consisted mainly of lateral root primordia. This apparently unique food source for a teleost is presumably ingested through subsurface nipping, which would be facilitated by the mouth and dentitional characteristics of sparids. The almost total lack of correspondence in the dietary compositions of fish in the length class that was well represented in both mangrove and rocky areas illustrates the extent to which this sparid is capable of opportunistic feeding behaviour.  相似文献   

Macroalgal turfs in the Azores     

Francisco M. Wallenstein  Marlene R. Terra  Joana Pombo  & Ana I. Neto 《Marine Ecology》2009,30(S1):113-117

Studies on macroalgal communities of the Azores report algal turfs as one of the most conspicuous ecological entities occurring on the rocky shores of these islands. The present study investigates the influence of shore height and substratum on turf composition. Data were analysed using the software PRIMER and results confirmed the previous distinction between calcareous, dominated by articulated coralline algae, and non-calcareous turfs, characterized mainly by small red algae. However, no differences in species composition were found in either type of turf occurring on different substrata or at different shore levels.  相似文献