Population structure of turbinid gastropods on wave-exposed subtidal reefs: Effects of density, body size and algae on grazing behaviour

Document Type

Journal Article

Publisher

Inter-Research Science Center

Faculty

Faculty of Computing, Health and Science

School

School of Natural Sciences / Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research

RAS ID

5484

Comments

Wernberg, T., White, M., & Vanderklift, M. A. (2008). Population structure of turbinid gastropods on wave-exposed subtidal reefs: Effects of density, body size and algae on grazing behaviour. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 362, 169-179. Available here

Abstract

Knowledge of the population structure and feeding capabilities of herbivores is critical to evaluate their influence on energy flow and community structure in their habitats. We tested for patterns in abundance (24 reefs) and size (12 reefs) of turbinid gastropods across 4 locations spanning >6° latitude (~1000 km) in Western Australia, and we tested the effect of density (1 to 5 individuals) and size (38.8 to 747.1 g wet wt) of Turbo torquatus on consumption of macroalgae with different thallus structure (Functional Groups 3 to 5). Turbinid gastropods were found at all locations (up to 2.4 ind. m–2); 82.4% of all individuals were T. torquatus. One location (Marmion, Perth) had considerably higher abundances than all other locations. Populations of T. torquatus at the 2 southern locations had a broad range of sizes (9 to 119 mm total shell length [TSL]), although 1 location was dominated by small, and the other, by large, individuals. In contrast, both northern locations were strongly dominated by 1 size class (40 to 60 mm TSL). T. torquatus consumed Ulva lactuca, Hypnea valentiae, Hennedya crispa and juvenile Ecklonia radiata at rates of 150 to 450 mg blotted fresh weight d–1, depending on density of gastropods and species of algae. There was a positive relationship between the rate of consumption and size of T. torquatus when fed U. lactuca and H. valentiae. The present study has produced 3 main insights: (1) densities of turbinids on offshore, wave-exposed, subtidal reefs are similar to those in other coastal habitats; (2) patterns of abundances and sizes are consistent with broad-scale processes, such as ocean climate, fishing pressure and eutrophication; and (3) T. torquatus can consume a variety of macroalgae at rates that suggest it has the potential to exert top-down control of macroalgae, although low densities of gastropods preclude strong effects.

DOI

10.3354/meps07416

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.3354/meps07416