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Limpet grazing on a physically stressful Patagonian rocky shore

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bazterrica, MC; Silliman, BR; Hidalgo, FJ; Crain, CM; Bertness, MD
Published in: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
December 21, 2007

Many theories of consumer control of communities have come from studies conducted in relatively benign, temperate zone rocky intertidal systems. Here, we examine gastropod grazing and the maintenance of bare space on a dry, wind-swept rocky shore of Patagonia, Argentina. Two limpet species are the primary intertidal grazers. Siphonaria lessoni dominates mid and high intertidal zones, while Nacella magellanica dominates the lower zone. In all zones, limpet densities are positively correlated with bare space and the occurrence of cracks. Tethering experiments revealed that: (1) physical stress sets the upper distribution limit of both limpets, (2) predators, such as oyster catchers, regulate Nacella populations and may restrict them to cracks and vertical surfaces, and (3) desiccation stress appears to drive similar crack distribution patterns of Siphonaria in the upper intertidal. Experimental removal of limpets in each intertidal zone indicated that limpets have: (1) no detectable effect in the high intertidal where physical forces dominate community organization, (2) weak impacts at mid-elevations as grazing only limited the abundance of fleshy algae with physical forces again dominating community structure, and (3) relatively stronger, but still weak impacts in the low zone. These results suggest that grazing impacts on Argentine rocky shores are weak in comparison to the physical stresses (e.g. high winds, low humidity) that largely determine structure in this system. The dominance of physical forcing in this system occurs despite having similar grazer densities to other temperate, but comparatively wet, rocky shorelines (e.g. British Isles) where top-down control is strong. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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Published In

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

DOI

ISSN

0022-0981

Publication Date

December 21, 2007

Volume

353

Issue

1

Start / End Page

22 / 34

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences
 

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Bazterrica, M. C., Silliman, B. R., Hidalgo, F. J., Crain, C. M., & Bertness, M. D. (2007). Limpet grazing on a physically stressful Patagonian rocky shore. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 353(1), 22–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2007.08.018
Bazterrica, M. C., B. R. Silliman, F. J. Hidalgo, C. M. Crain, and M. D. Bertness. “Limpet grazing on a physically stressful Patagonian rocky shore.” Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 353, no. 1 (December 21, 2007): 22–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2007.08.018.
Bazterrica MC, Silliman BR, Hidalgo FJ, Crain CM, Bertness MD. Limpet grazing on a physically stressful Patagonian rocky shore. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 2007 Dec 21;353(1):22–34.
Bazterrica, M. C., et al. “Limpet grazing on a physically stressful Patagonian rocky shore.” Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, vol. 353, no. 1, Dec. 2007, pp. 22–34. Scopus, doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2007.08.018.
Bazterrica MC, Silliman BR, Hidalgo FJ, Crain CM, Bertness MD. Limpet grazing on a physically stressful Patagonian rocky shore. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 2007 Dec 21;353(1):22–34.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

DOI

ISSN

0022-0981

Publication Date

December 21, 2007

Volume

353

Issue

1

Start / End Page

22 / 34

Related Subject Headings

  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences