DOCSLIB.ORG

Genetics and Thermal Biology of Littorinid Snails of The

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Genetics and Thermal Biology of Littorinid Snails of The Genetics and Thermal Biology of Littorinid Snails of the Genera Afrolittorina, Echinolittorina and Littoraria (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) from Temperate, Subtropical and Tropical Regions By Tshifhiwa Given Matumba A Thesis Submitted to Rhodes University in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Philosophy of Doctorate (Science) in Marine Biology Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, South Africa Under the Supervision of: Professor Christopher D. McQuaid (Chair of Zoology and SARCHI Research Chair in Marine Ecosystem Research, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, South Africa) Professor Nigel P. Barker (Head of Botany Department and Molecular Ecology Systematics Group, Department of Botany, Rhodes University, South Africa) February 2013 i ABSTRACT With the anticipated effects of climate change due to global warming, there is concern over how animals, especially ectotherms, will respond to or tolerate extreme and fluctuating environmental temperature stress. Littorinid snails are intertidal ectotherms that live high on the shore where they experience both extreme and variable conditions of temperature and desiccation stress, and are believed to live close to their tolerance limits. This study investigated the thermal biology of littorinid snails of the genera Afrolittorina, Echinolittorina and Littoraria from temperate, subtropical and tropical regions in South Africa and Brunei Darussalam using thermal tolerance, heart function, and proteome approaches. The effects of conditions, such as rate of change in temperature, acclimation, heat shock, season and starvation were also tested. In addition, the evolutionary relationships and genetic diversity between and within the South African Afrolittorina spp. were investigated using mitochondrial and nuclear markers. Genetic results confirmed that these are two distinct species, with the brown to black A. knysnaensis predominant in the cool-temperate region of South Africa and the pale blue-grey A. africana in the subtropical region. There was low genetic variation and differentiation within each species, suggesting high gene flow among populations as a result of the effects of ocean currents on the dispersal of their planktotrophic larvae. Tests using exposure to high temperatures revealed differences in the thermal tolerances, heart performance and protein profiles of species from different latitudes, regions and zones on the shore. Thermal tolerance conformed to expectations, with clear, statistically significant trends from high tolerance in subtropical species to lower tolerance in temperate species. However, for Afrolittorina spp., there were no significant differences in the thermal tolerances of conspecifics from different regions, though there was a significant difference in thermal tolerance between juveniles and adults. Overall, adults of all species showed higher thermal tolerances than juveniles. Although lethal temperatures for these species were higher in summer than winter, laboratory acclimation had no effect on heat coma temperatures. ii All species showed some regulation of heart rate, with a degree of independence of heart rate from temperature across mid-range temperatures. The tropical species showed quick induction and good regulation of heart rate followed by the subtropical and temperate species, which displayed mixed responses including regulation, partial regulation and lack of regulation. Overall, tropical Echinolittorina spp. showed good regulation, while the subtropical E. natalensis and Littoraria glabrata exhibited a mixture of partial regulation and regulation. The subtropical/temperate Afrolittorina spp. showed high individual variability, some animals exhibiting regulation, while others did not. These effects seem to be largely phylogenetically determined as there were no differences in the heart rate responses of Afrolittorina spp. from different regions. The temperatures at which heart rate became independent of temperature (thermoneutral zone) were within the range experienced under natural conditions. In addition, there were differences in Arrhenius breakpoint and endpoint temperatures, showing a trend from higher in tropical animals to lower for temperate animals. Conditions such as acclimation, heat shock and starvation had little or no effect on heart performance. However, a slow increase in temperature induced good regulation of heart rate with noticeable shifts of breakpoints and endpoints for Afrolittorina spp. Lastly, there were differences in the proteome responses between and within Afrolittorina spp. as a function of species, size and treatment. Although both large and small A. knysnaensis had a greater number of protein spots in their proteome than A. africana (though the difference was not significant), the later showed significantly higher differential expression of certain proteins following heat stress. In addition, juveniles of both species displayed greater numbers of protein spots in their proteome than adults. The results indicate a difference in the physiological and biochemical responses (i.e. adaptations) of these snails to temperature, and this seems to relate to differences in biogeography, phylogeny, species identity and ecology. The ability to regulate heart rate is phylogenetically determined, while thresholds and lethal limits correspond to biogeography and species ecology. The proteome seems to correspond to species ecology. The results also indicate that these littorinids can tolerate high temperature stress and in this respect they are iii well suited to life in the intertidal zones or habitats where temperature and other stresses or conditions are extreme and can change abruptly. However, the limited ability of these snails to acclimate to different temperatures suggests that they are already living close to their tolerance limits with small safety margins or narrow thermal windows and so may be vulnerable to small rises in substratum temperature and/or solar radiation. iv DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my sister, Mrs Muhanganei Edith Nesane, for showing everlasting patience and support throughout my studies from undergraduates to the end of this thesis. Without her, I would have not made it to this far. v DECLARATION AND AUTHOURITY OF ACCESSS I, Tshifhiwa Given Matumba, hereby declare that this thesis contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at any university or academic institution, and to the best of my knowledge contains no paraphrase or copy of material previously published or written by other persons, except where due reference is made in the text of the thesis. The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of the university. SIGNATURE:...........................................................DATE:…………................................. I empower the University to reproduce, for the purpose of research, either the whole or any portion of the contents of my dissertation in any manner whatsoever. NAME: Mr. Tshifhiwa Given Matumba STUDENT NO. 08m6677 SIGNATURE:...........................................................DATE:…………................................. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Various people contributed in this study one way or another. Many thanks go to my supervisor, Prof. Christopher D. McQuaid, for providing an opportunity to study through his financial support, guidance in planning the whole project, perusing the many drafts that have passed his desk during the course of my study; and the perspective that he brought to the project as well as the intricacies of English language through thoughtful editing of draft manuscripts. He is also thanked for his patience, encouragement, support and his effort to provide pleasant working conditions in the department as well as the university. I would also like to thank my co-supervisor, Prof. Nigel P. Barker, for allowing me to use his laboratories and equipments, editing the genetics drafts as well as providing advice and support for the whole genetics work. Dr Chris M.R. Kelly of the Department of Botany, Rhodes University is to be thanked for helping with analysing of the genetics data, providing advice and support on genetics work. Prof. (Associate) David M. Marshall of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam is thanked for his tremendous help with the methods and procedures, providing laboratory space and equipment for measuring heart rate, and passing on his knowledge of working with metabolism of littorinid snails as well as editing the heart rate draft. He is also thanked for continuous encouragement and support throughout the study, his help with organising entry permit, accommodation and transport during my visit to Brunei Darussalam. Members of the Proteomics group at the Swire Institute of Marine Biology (SWIMS), University of Hong Kong, provided help in different ways. Dr Vengatessen Thiyagarajan provided laboratories, equipment and consumables for 2-D gels work; helped with 2-D gels analysis and editing the proteomics draft. Mr Kelvin Wong is to be thanked for his patience and generosity in teaching and help with 2-D gels work, and sharing his knowledge of proteomics. Dr Gray Williams deserve many thanks for organising accommodation and transportation, access to the Institute, computers and other facilities to mention few. The Department of Zoology and Entomology staff and technical team are thanked for their assistance in various ways. Dr Nicole Richoux and Mrs Lisel Knot provided equipment; Ms
Load more

Recommended publications
  • (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) in the Temperate Southern Hemisphere: the Genera Nodilittorina, Austrolittorina and Afrolittorina
    © Copyright Australian Museum, 2004 Records of the Australian Museum (2004) Vol. 56: 75–122. ISSN 0067-1975 The Subfamily Littorininae (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) in the Temperate Southern Hemisphere: The Genera Nodilittorina, Austrolittorina and Afrolittorina DAVID G. REID* AND SUZANNE T. WILLIAMS Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom [email protected] · [email protected] ABSTRACT. The littorinine gastropods of the temperate southern continents were formerly classified together with tropical species in the large genus Nodilittorina. Recently, molecular data have shown that they belong in three distinct genera, Austrolittorina, Afrolittorina and Nodilittorina, whereas the tropical species are members of a fourth genus, Echinolittorina. Austrolittorina contains 5 species: A. unifasciata in Australia, A. antipodum and A. cincta in New Zealand, and A. fernandezensis and A. araucana in western South America. Afrolittorina contains 4 species: A. africana and A. knysnaensis in southern Africa, and A. praetermissa and A. acutispira in Australia. Nodilittorina is monotypic, containing only the Australian N. pyramidalis. This paper presents the first detailed morphological descriptions of the African and Australasian species of these three southern genera (the eastern Pacific species have been described elsewhere). The species-level taxonomy of several of these has been confused in the past; Afrolittorina africana and A. knysnaensis are here distinguished as separate taxa; Austrolittorina antipodum is a distinct species and not a subspecies of A. unifasciata; Nodilittorina pyramidalis is separated from the tropical Echinolittorina trochoides with similar shell characters. In addition to descriptions of shells, radulae and reproductive anatomy, distribution maps are given, and the ecological literature reviewed.
    [Show full text]
  • The Systematics and Ecology of the Mangrove-Dwelling Littoraria Species (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) in the Indo-Pacific
    ResearchOnline@JCU This file is part of the following reference: Reid, David Gordon (1984) The systematics and ecology of the mangrove-dwelling Littoraria species (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) in the Indo-Pacific. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/24120/ The author has certified to JCU that they have made a reasonable effort to gain permission and acknowledge the owner of any third party copyright material included in this document. If you believe that this is not the case, please contact [email protected] and quote http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/24120/ THE SYSTEMATICS AND ECOLOGY OF THE MANGROVE-DWELLING LITTORARIA SPECIES (GASTROPODA: LITTORINIDAE) IN THE INDO-PACIFIC VOLUME I Thesis submitted by David Gordon REID MA (Cantab.) in May 1984 . for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Zoology at James Cook University of North Queensland STATEMENT ON ACCESS I, the undersigned, the author of this thesis, understand that the following restriction placed by me on access to this thesis will not extend beyond three years from the date on which the thesis is submitted to the University. I wish to place restriction on access to this thesis as follows: Access not to be permitted for a period of 3 years. After this period has elapsed I understand that James Cook. University of North Queensland will make it available for use within the University Library and, by microfilm or other photographic means, allow access to users in other approved libraries. All uses consulting this thesis will have to sign the following statement: 'In consulting this thesis I agree not to copy or closely paraphrase it in whole or in part without the written consent of the author; and to make proper written acknowledgement for any assistance which I have obtained from it.' David G.
    [Show full text]
  • INVENTORY of ROCK TYPES, HABITATS, and BIODIVERSITY on ROCKY SEASHORES in SOUTH AUSTRALIA's TWO SOUTH-EAST MARINE PARKS: Pilot
    INVENTORY OF ROCK TYPES, HABITATS, AND BIODIVERSITY ON ROCKY SEASHORES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S TWO SOUTH-EAST MARINE PARKS: Pilot Study A report to the South Australian Department of Environment, Water, and Natural Resources Nathan Janetzki, Peter G. Fairweather & Kirsten Benkendorff June 2015 1 Table of contents Abstract 3 Introduction 4 Methods 5 Results 11 Discussion 32 References cited 42 Appendix 1: Photographic plates 45 Appendix 2: Graphical depiction of line-intercept transects 47 Appendix 3: Statistical outputs 53 2 Abstract Geological, habitat, and biodiversity inventories were conducted across six rocky seashores in South Australia’s (SA) two south-east marine parks during August 2014, prior to the final implementation of zoning and establishment of management plans for each marine park. These inventories revealed that the sampled rocky seashores in SA’s South East Region were comprised of several rock types: a soft calcarenite, Mount Gambier limestone, and/or a harder flint. Furthermore, these inventories identified five major types of habitat across the six sampled rocky seashores, which included: emersed substrate; submerged substrate; boulders; rock pools; and sand deposits. Overall, a total of 12 marine plant species and 46 megainvertebrate species were recorded across the six sampled seashores in the Lower South East and Upper South East Marine Parks. These species richness values are considerably lower than those recorded previously for rocky seashores in other parts of SA. Low species richness may result from the type of rock that constitutes south-east rocky seashores, the interaction between rock type and strong wave action and/or large swells, or may reflect the time of year (winter) during which these inventories were conducted.
    [Show full text]
  • WMSDB - Worldwide Mollusc Species Data Base
    WMSDB - Worldwide Mollusc Species Data Base Family: TURBINIDAE Author: Claudio Galli - [email protected] (updated 07/set/2015) Class: GASTROPODA --- Clade: VETIGASTROPODA-TROCHOIDEA ------ Family: TURBINIDAE Rafinesque, 1815 (Sea) - Alphabetic order - when first name is in bold the species has images Taxa=681, Genus=26, Subgenus=17, Species=203, Subspecies=23, Synonyms=411, Images=168 abyssorum , Bolma henica abyssorum M.M. Schepman, 1908 aculeata , Guildfordia aculeata S. Kosuge, 1979 aculeatus , Turbo aculeatus T. Allan, 1818 - syn of: Epitonium muricatum (A. Risso, 1826) acutangulus, Turbo acutangulus C. Linnaeus, 1758 acutus , Turbo acutus E. Donovan, 1804 - syn of: Turbonilla acuta (E. Donovan, 1804) aegyptius , Turbo aegyptius J.F. Gmelin, 1791 - syn of: Rubritrochus declivis (P. Forsskål in C. Niebuhr, 1775) aereus , Turbo aereus J. Adams, 1797 - syn of: Rissoa parva (E.M. Da Costa, 1778) aethiops , Turbo aethiops J.F. Gmelin, 1791 - syn of: Diloma aethiops (J.F. Gmelin, 1791) agonistes , Turbo agonistes W.H. Dall & W.H. Ochsner, 1928 - syn of: Turbo scitulus (W.H. Dall, 1919) albidus , Turbo albidus F. Kanmacher, 1798 - syn of: Graphis albida (F. Kanmacher, 1798) albocinctus , Turbo albocinctus J.H.F. Link, 1807 - syn of: Littorina saxatilis (A.G. Olivi, 1792) albofasciatus , Turbo albofasciatus L. Bozzetti, 1994 albofasciatus , Marmarostoma albofasciatus L. Bozzetti, 1994 - syn of: Turbo albofasciatus L. Bozzetti, 1994 albulus , Turbo albulus O. Fabricius, 1780 - syn of: Menestho albula (O. Fabricius, 1780) albus , Turbo albus J. Adams, 1797 - syn of: Rissoa parva (E.M. Da Costa, 1778) albus, Turbo albus T. Pennant, 1777 amabilis , Turbo amabilis H. Ozaki, 1954 - syn of: Bolma guttata (A. Adams, 1863) americanum , Lithopoma americanum (J.F.
    [Show full text]
  • Echinolittorina Peruviana (Lamarck, 1822): Antecedentes De La Especie
    Sociedad Malacológica de Chile (SMACH) Amici Molluscarum 18: 39-42 (2010) Echinolittorina peruviana (Lamarck, 1822): antecedentes de la especie Viviana M. Castillo y Donald I. Brown Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción y del Desarrollo, Departamento de Biología y Ciencias Ambientales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile. E-mail: [email protected] Clasificación Clase Gastropoda Cuvier, 1795 en cuya base interna se observa una línea blanca, Subclase Orthogastropoda Ponder y Lindberg, 1997 curvada hacia la columela, que es cóncava a recta Superorden Caenogastropoda Cox, 1960 de color café lechoso o muy oscuro (Guzmán et al ., Orden Sorbeoconcha Ponder y Lindberg, 1997 1998). La protoconcha no se observa (Reid, Suborden Hypsogastropoda Ponder y Lindberg, 1997 2002a). Los individuos adultos poseen externa- Infraorden Littorinimorpha Golikov y Starobogatov, 1975 mente una coloración muy característica, con Superfamilia Littorinoidea Children, 1834 líneas blancas y negras verticales en forma de zig- Familia Littorinidae Gray, 1840 zag (Guzmán et al ., 1998; Reid, 2002a); en cam- Subfamilia Littorininae Children, 1834 bio, los juveniles son de color negro (Jordán y Género Echinolittorina Habe, 1956 Ramorino, 1975). La cabeza y los tentáculos son de color negro, con un borde blanco alrededor del ojo; la rádula tiene una longitud que fluctúa entre 2,8 y Sinonimia 3,4 mm (Reid, 2002a). Para Echinolittorina peruviana (Lamarck, 1822) se han recuperado de la literatura los siguientes sinónimos (Reid, 2002a; Guzmán et al ., 1998): Distribución geográfica Phasianella peruviana Lamarck, 1822 Su distribución latitudinal, según distintos autores, Littorina peruviana Gray, 1839 tiene como límite sur Valparaíso (Chile) Turbo zebra Wood, 1828 (Marincovich, 1973; Álamo y Valdivieso, 1987); Littorina zebra Phillipi, 1847 sin embargo, Aldea y Valdovinos (2005) recien- Littorina zebra var.
    [Show full text]
  • Littorina Littorea Class
    . Easily seen year round along the Littorina littorea shore line of Burntcoat Class: Gastropoda Head. Order: Neotaenioglossa Family: Littorinidae Genus: Littorina Distribution The Littorinidae family is a In the genus Littorina is the species L.littorea commonly known group of over 200 known as the edible periwinkle. It is native to the north-eastern coasts species of sea snails, of the Atlantic Ocean, including northern Spain, France, commonly referred to as England, Scotland, Ireland, Scandinavia and Russia and has been periwinkles. They have a introduced to the Atlantic coast of North America. It is now a global distribution. Within predominant mollusc from New Jersey to Newfoundland. In this family of periwinkles Canada, their range includes New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, there are several genera, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador. one of which is Litttorina. They are plentiful at Burntcoat Head. Habitat Though most abundant on rocky substrates and common in tide In the Atlantic it is found pools, it is a habitat generalist that also occurs on muddy or on both open coast and sandy bottoms. They are found along the entire coast, on estuary habitats from the breakwaters, dikes, piers, etc. In favourable habitats, it reaches upper intertidal zone to densities of up to 200-800 individuals per square metre. about 40 metres deep, and Since its arrival in North America it has become the most can tolerate salinities down abundant shallow-water herbivorous snail from Nova Scotia to to around 13 ppt. Long Island Sound. Food Although primarily an algae grazer, it also feeds on small L. littorea is a mostly invertebrates such as barnacle larvae.
    [Show full text]
  • Diamondback Terrapin Malaclemys Terrapin Contributors: Dubose Griffin, David Owens and J
    Diamondback Terrapin Malaclemys terrapin Contributors: DuBose Griffin, David Owens and J. Whitfield Gibbons DESCRIPTION Taxonomy and Basic Description The diamondback terrapin is a small, long-lived estuarine turtle endemic to coastal marshes, estuarine bays, lagoons and creeks ranging from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to the Gulf Coast of Texas. Currently, there are five (Hartsell 2001) or seven (Ernst et al. 1994) subspecies. More recently, Hart (2004) identified six management units. The subspecies found in South Carolina is Malaclemys terrapin centrata. Terrapins have varied coloration from black to spotted patterns on the soft tissue and dark or light-colored scutes with strong concentric layers on the carapace. The hind margin of the carapace curls up instead of flaring. Hind legs are large and toes have extensive webs. These turtles are strong, fast swimmers that feed on a variety of mollusks, crustaceans and other invertebrates. In South Carolina, salt marsh periwinkles (Littoraria irrorata) and blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) are among the terrapin’s primary food sources (Tucker et al. 1995; Levesque 2000). Terrapins are sexually dimorphic. Females are much larger than males and reach 15 to 18 cm (6 to7 inches) in length; males reach 10 to 13 cm (4 to 5 inches) in length. Adult females also have enlarged heads. Terrapins hibernate in the mud during winter and mate in the spring. Eggs are laid May through early August and clutches have 5 to 12 eggs (Pritchard 1979). The number of clutches laid per female in South Carolina is undocumented; however two clutches may be common (David Owens, College of Charleston, pers.
    [Show full text]
  • Four Marine Digenean Parasites of Austrolittorina Spp. (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) in New Zealand: Morphological and Molecular Data
    Syst Parasitol (2014) 89:133–152 DOI 10.1007/s11230-014-9515-2 Four marine digenean parasites of Austrolittorina spp. (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) in New Zealand: morphological and molecular data Katie O’Dwyer • Isabel Blasco-Costa • Robert Poulin • Anna Falty´nkova´ Received: 1 July 2014 / Accepted: 4 August 2014 Ó Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014 Abstract Littorinid snails are one particular group obtained. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out at of gastropods identified as important intermediate the superfamily level and along with the morpholog- hosts for a wide range of digenean parasite species, at ical data were used to infer the generic affiliation of least throughout the Northern Hemisphere. However the species. nothing is known of trematode species infecting these snails in the Southern Hemisphere. This study is the first attempt at cataloguing the digenean parasites Introduction infecting littorinids in New Zealand. Examination of over 5,000 individuals of two species of the genus Digenean trematode parasites typically infect a Austrolittorina Rosewater, A. cincta Quoy & Gaim- gastropod as the first intermediate host in their ard and A. antipodum Philippi, from intertidal rocky complex life-cycles. They are common in the marine shores, revealed infections with four digenean species environment, particularly in the intertidal zone representative of a diverse range of families: Philo- (Mouritsen & Poulin, 2002). One abundant group of phthalmidae Looss, 1899, Notocotylidae Lu¨he, 1909, gastropods in the marine intertidal environment is the Renicolidae Dollfus, 1939 and Microphallidae Ward, littorinids (i.e. periwinkles), which are characteristic 1901. This paper provides detailed morphological organisms of the high intertidal or littoral zone and descriptions of the cercariae and intramolluscan have a global distribution (Davies & Williams, 1998).
    [Show full text]
  • Márcia Alexandra the Course of TBT Pollution in Miranda Souto the World During the Last Decade
    Márcia Alexandra The course of TBT pollution in Miranda Souto the world during the last decade Evolução da poluição por TBT no mundo durante a última década DECLARAÇÃO Declaro que este relatório é integralmente da minha autoria, estando devidamente referenciadas as fontes e obras consultadas, bem como identificadas de modo claro as citações dessas obras. Não contém, por isso, qualquer tipo de plágio quer de textos publicados, qualquer que seja o meio dessa publicação, incluindo meios eletrónicos, quer de trabalhos académicos. Márcia Alexandra The course of TBT pollution in Miranda Souto the world during the last decade Evolução da poluição por TBT no mundo durante a última década Dissertação apresentada à Universidade de Aveiro para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Toxicologia e Ecotoxicologia, realizada sob orientação científica do Doutor Carlos Miguez Barroso, Professor Auxiliar do Departamento de Biologia da Universidade de Aveiro. O júri Presidente Professor Doutor Amadeu Mortágua Velho da Maia Soares Professor Catedrático do Departamento de Biologia da Universidade de Aveiro Arguente Doutora Ana Catarina Almeida Sousa Estagiária de Pós-Doutoramento da Universidade da Beira Interior Orientador Carlos Miguel Miguez Barroso Professor Auxiliar do Departamento de Biologia da Universidade de Aveiro Agradecimentos A Deus, pela força e persistência que me deu durante a realização desta tese. Ao apoio e a força dados pela minha família para a realização desta tese. Á Doutora Susana Galante-Oliveira, por toda a aprendizagem científica, paciência e pelo apoio que me deu nos momentos mais difíceis ao longo deste percurso. Ao Sr. Prof. Doutor Carlos Miguel Miguez Barroso pela sua orientação científica.
    [Show full text]
  • Miller L. P. & M. W. Denny. (2011)
    Reference: Biol. Bull. 220: 209–223. (June 2011) © 2011 Marine Biological Laboratory Importance of Behavior and Morphological Traits for Controlling Body Temperature in Littorinid Snails LUKE P. MILLER1,* AND MARK W. DENNY Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California 93950 Abstract. For organisms living in the intertidal zone, Introduction temperature is an important selective agent that can shape species distributions and drive phenotypic variation among Within the narrow band of habitat between the low and populations. Littorinid snails, which occupy the upper limits high tidemarks on seashores, the distribution of individual of rocky shores and estuaries worldwide, often experience species and the structure of ecological communities are extreme high temperatures and prolonged aerial emersion dictated by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors (Connell, during low tides, yet their robust physiology—coupled with 1961, 1972; Lewis, 1964; Paine, 1974; Dayton, 1975; morphological and behavioral traits—permits these gastro- Menge and Branch, 2001). Biological interactions such as pods to persist and exert strong grazing control over algal predation, competition, and facilitation play out on a back- communities. We use a mechanistic heat-budget model to ground of constantly shifting environmental conditions driven primarily by the action of tides and waves (Stephen- compare the effects of behavioral and morphological traits son and Stephenson, 1972; Denny, 2006; Denny et al., on the body temperatures of five species of littorinid snails 2009). Changes in important environmental parameters under natural weather conditions. Model predictions and such as light, temperature, and wave action can alter the field experiments indicate that, for all five species, the suitability of the habitat for a given species at both small relative contribution of shell color or sculpturing to temper- and large spatial scales (Wethey, 2002; Denny et al., 2004; ature regulation is small, on the order of 0.2–2 °C, while Harley, 2008).
    [Show full text]
  • Gastropods Diversity in Thondaimanaru Lagoon (Class: Gastropoda), Northern Province, Sri Lanka
    Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 2021, 9, 21-30 https://www.scirp.org/journal/gep ISSN Online: 2327-4344 ISSN Print: 2327-4336 Gastropods Diversity in Thondaimanaru Lagoon (Class: Gastropoda), Northern Province, Sri Lanka Amarasinghe Arachchige Tiruni Nilundika Amarasinghe, Thampoe Eswaramohan, Raji Gnaneswaran Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna, Jaffna, Sri Lanka How to cite this paper: Amarasinghe, A. Abstract A. T. N., Eswaramohan, T., & Gnaneswa- ran, R. (2021). Gastropods Diversity in Thondaimanaru lagoon (TL) is one of the three lagoons in the Jaffna Penin- Thondaimanaru Lagoon (Class: Gastropo- sula, Sri Lanka. TL (N-9.819584, E-80.134086), which is 74.5 Km2. Fringing da), Northern Province, Sri Lanka. Journal these lagoons are mangroves, large tidal flats and salt marshes. The present of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 9, 21-30. study is carried out to assess the diversity of gastropods in the northern part https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2021.93002 of the TL. The sampling of gastropods was performed by using quadrat me- thod from July 2015 to June 2016. Different sites were selected and rainfall Received: January 25, 2020 data, water temperature, salinity of the water and GPS values were collected. Accepted: March 9, 2021 Published: March 12, 2021 Collected gastropod shells were classified using standard taxonomic keys and their morphological as well as morphometrical characteristics were analyzed. Copyright © 2021 by author(s) and A total of 23 individual gastropods were identified from the lagoon which Scientific Research Publishing Inc. belongs to 21 genera of 15 families among them 11 gastropods were identified This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International up to species level.
    [Show full text]
  • Malacofauna Marina Del Parque Nacional “Los Caimanes”, Villa Clara, Cuba
    Tesis de Diploma Malacofauna Marina del Parque Nacional “Los Caimanes”, Villa Clara, Cuba. Autora: Liliana Olga Quesada Pérez Junio, 2011 Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas Facultad Ciencias Agropecuaria TESIS DE DIPLOMA Malacofauna marina del Parque Nacional “Los Caimanes”, Villa Clara, Cuba. Autora: Liliana Olga Quesada Pérez Tutor: M. C. Ángel Quirós Espinosa Investigador Auxiliar y Profesor Auxiliar [email protected] Centro de Estudios y Servicios Ambientales, CITMA-Villa Clara Carretera Central 716, Santa Clara Consultante: Dr.C. José Espinosa Sáez Investigador Titular Instituto de Oceanología Junio, 2011 Pensamiento “La diferencia entre una mala observación y una buena, es que la primera es errónea y la segunda es incompleta.” Van Hise Dedicatoria Dedicatoria: A mis padres, a Yandy y a mi familia: por las innumerables razones que me dan para vivir, y por ser fuente de inspiración para mis metas. Agradecimientos Agradecimientos: Muchos son los que de alguna forma contribuyeron a la realización de este trabajo, todos saben cuánto les agradezco: Primero quiero agradecer a mis padres, que aunque no estén presentes sé que de una forma u otra siempre estuvieron allí para darme todo su amor y apoyo. A mi familia en general: a mi abuela, hermano, a mis tíos por toda su ayuda y comprensión. A Yandy y a su familia que han estado allí frente a mis dificultades. Agradecer a mi tutor el M.Sc. Ángel Quirós, a mi consultante el Dr.C. José Espinosa y a la Dra.C. María Elena, por su dedicación para el logro de esta tesis. A mis compañeros de grupo por estos cinco años que hemos compartidos juntos, que para mí fueron inolvidables.
    [Show full text]