Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve

04 Jun, 09 AM - 06 Jun, 03 AM

A stenotopic limpet, ?Lottia? paleacea, is a plastic limpet found on the intertidal surf-grasses Phyllospadix torreyi and Phyllospadix scouleri. The proposed research is designed to test the hypothesis that L. paleacea that live on the thin blades of P. torreyi will have a lower total volume, as estimated by shell measurements, than those that live on the wide blades of P. scouleri; It is also predicted that L. paleacea on thinner P. torreyi will reach the reproductive stage at a smaller volume than those on P. scouleri. To tests the first hypothesis, samples will be collected from six California coast sites, and length, width and height of each shell will be measured for volume calculations. To test the second hypothesis, samples will be collected over the period of a year at one local site and will be analyzed for the presence or absence of gonads. It is predicted that limpets on P. torreyi will have a smaller maximum volume than those on P. scouleri, and that they also have gonads at a smaller volume. This may decrease the fecundity and reproductive success of these animals due to the constraints placed on them because of the substrate they live on. If these predictions are supported by the findings, then this study will provide evidence for a potential fitness cost of phenotypic plasticity.

Visit #15470 @Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 10114 | Research

Examining the phenotypic plasticity of the limpet Lottia paleacea on the surfgrass Phyllospadix

graduate_student - California State University (CSU), Fullerton

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Group of 2 Graduate Student Jun 4 - 6, 2008 (3 days)

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Camping Space 2 Jun 4 - 6, 2008