The first observations of Ischnochiton (Mollusca, Polyplacophora) movement behaviour, with comparison between habitats differing in complexity

PeerJ
Kiran Liversage, Kirsten Benkendorff

Abstract

Most species of Ischnochiton are habitat specialists and are almost always found underneath unstable marine hard-substrata such as boulders. The difficulty of experimenting on these chitons without causing disturbance means little is known about their ecology despite their importance as a group that often contributes greatly to coastal species diversity. In the present study we measured among-boulder distributional patterns of Ischnochiton smaragdinus, and used time-lapse photography to quantify movement behaviours within different habitat types (pebble substrata and rock-platform). In intertidal rock-pools in South Australia, I. smaragdinus were significantly overdispersed among boulders, as most boulders had few individuals but a small proportion harboured large populations. I. smaragdinus individuals emerge from underneath boulders during nocturnal low-tides and move amongst the inter-boulder matrix (pebbles or rock-platform). Seventy-two percent of chitons in the pebble matrix did not move from one pebble to another within the periods of observation (55-130 min) but a small proportion moved across as many as five pebbles per hour, indicating a capacity for adults to migrate among disconnected habitat patches. Chitons moved ...Continue Reading

References

Jul 7, 2001·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·R W DavisB J Le Boeuf
Jun 28, 2002·The Biological Bulletin·Julia K ParrishDaniel Grünbaum
Jan 1, 1989·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·A J Underwood, P G Fairweather
Feb 5, 2013·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Terence P T NgGray A Williams

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

PERMDISP
Photoshop CS
PERMANOVA
Photoshop
PRIMER

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Brucellosis (ASM)

Brucellosis is a bacterial infection caused by members of the genus brucella and remains one of the world's major zoonotic diseases. Discover the latest research on Brucellosis here.

Brucellosis

Brucellosis is a bacterial infection caused by members of the genus brucella and remains one of the world's major zoonotic diseases. Discover the latest research on Brucellosis here.