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Latitudinal trends in reproduction, recruitment and population characteristics of some rocky littoral molluscs and cirripedes

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Abstract

This paper reviews progress in the COST 647 rocky littoral programme involving three patellids, two trochids and two cirripedes on European Atlantic coasts. Northern geographical limits are set primarily by repopulation failure, and northern populations are characterised by short, mid-summer breeding periods, high frequency of failed or poor recruitments and low density of large, long-lived individuals. Towards the south molluscan breeding periods lengthen and become later, extending in some cases throughout much of the year but with least or no activity in mid-summer. There are probably fewer recruitment failures and thus higher densities, but individuals are of smaller maximum size and shorter life-span.

The cirripedes show similar latitudinal trends in recruitment timing but Semibalanus is restricted to a single annual brood throughout its range.

The two species reaching their southern limits show progressive restriction to the lowest tidal levels.

Recruitment failures do not result from inadequate gonad activity. They arise in cirripedes during the planktonic phase and in the molluscs during settlement and early shore life. The temperature sensitivity of molluscan spat is primarily responsible for the north/south gradient in recruitment times from summer towards winter.

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    J. R. Lewis

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Formerly University of Leeds, England

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Lewis, J.R. Latitudinal trends in reproduction, recruitment and population characteristics of some rocky littoral molluscs and cirripedes. Hydrobiologia 142, 1–13 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026742

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