INVESTIGADORES
LOMOVASKY Betina Judith
artículos
Título:
Grazing effects of the periwinkle Echinolittorina peruviana at a central Peruvian high rocky intertidal
Autor/es:
HIDALGO, F.; FIRSTATER F.N; FANJUL M.E.; BAZTERRICA M.C.,; LOMOVASKY BETINA J.,; TARAZONA J.,; IRIBARNE O.
Revista:
HELGOLAND MARINE RESEARCH
Editorial:
SPRINGER
Referencias:
Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2008 vol. 62 p. 73 - 86
ISSN:
1438-387X
Resumen:
Echinolittorina peruviana
is the most common gastropod in the high intertidal zone of Peru,
representing more than 80 % of the individuals present at that zone.
Experimental removal of snails was used to evaluate their effects on a)
the abundance of epilithic biofilm, b) barnacle recruitment, and c) the
abundance of macroalgae under ?normal? conditions of the El Niño
Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Experiments were carried out from October
2005 to April 2007 at two intertidal levels of a semi-protected rocky
shore of central Peru. Results demonstrated that E. peruviana
is able to control biofilm abundance and barnacle recruitment at both
heights investigated, with marked effects in the lower zone. Erect
macroalgae (Ulva spp. and Gelidium spp.) were less
affected by grazing; but negative effects were observed on macroalgal
crusts. Season and physical stress seems to play a more important role
in the abundance of macroalgae in the high intertidal. Our results are
similar to those reported elsewhere for high shore littorinids and
represent baseline data to understand how the role of intertidal
consumers will vary under the cold (La Niña) and warm (El Niño) phases of ENSO on these shores.