Population dynamics and secondary production of gastropods on a sheltered beach in south-eastern Brazil: a comparison between an herbivore and a scavenger
Ricardo S. Cardoso A and Tatiana M. B. Cabrini A B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Laboratório de Ecologia Marinha, Departamento Ecologia e Recursos Marinhos, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Avenida Pasteur number 458, Urca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 22290-240, Brazil.
B Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 21941-902, Brazil.
C Corresponding author. Email: rcardoso@unirio.br
Marine and Freshwater Research 68(1) 87-94 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF15279
Submitted: 26 July 2015 Accepted: 20 November 2015 Published: 11 February 2016
Abstract
A greater amount of organic matter and the higher productivity in sheltered environments, such as muddy beaches, can be attributed to the presence of bacteria and plants, which provide more food in these environments than in exposed sandy beaches. However, the influence of this productivity on the population biology of different trophic levels has not been adequately assessed in sheltered environments. We examined the variation of population dynamics and secondary production of two intertidal gastropods, the herbivorous Cerithium atratum and the scavenger Nassarius vibex, in a sandflat environment. Monthly samplings were conducted at Flexeiras beach according to a systematic design. The highest population abundances were observed in spring for both species. The herbivorous species had higher abundance, individual sizes, growth performance, mean biomass, secondary production somatic, slower growth acceleration (K) and longer life spans than the scavenger species. Similar mortality was observed between both gastropods and could be explained by biological (i.e. predation) and physical (e.g. organic material and sediment type) factors. The life-history traits of the gastropod species responded to trophic levels. Herbivores had higher abundance, growth and production efficiency than did scavengers. However, environmental factors, such as temperature and food quality and availability, also affected these species.
Additional keywords: Cerithium atratum, Nassarius vibex, population biology.
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