Grazing effects of the periwinkle Nodilittorina peruviana at a central Peruvian high rocky intertidal

HIDALGO, F; FIRSTATER, F; FANJUL, ME; BASTERRICA, C; LOMOVASKY, B; TARAZONA, J; IRIBARNE, O

HELGOLAND MARINE RESEARCH

Springer Verlag

Lugar: New York; Año: 2008 vol. 62 p. 73 - 83

1438-387X

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 eVects on (a) abundance of epilithic bioWlm, (b) barnacle recruitment, and (c) 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 bioWlm abundance and barnacle recruitment at both heights investigated, with marked eVects in the lower zone. Erect macroalgae (Ulva spp. and Gelidium spp.) were less aVected by grazing; but negative eVects were observed on macroalgal crusts. Season and physical stress seem 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.