The importance of intraspecific competition in a Littorina littorea population in the Wadden Sea

Two field experiments were carried out totest whether effects of intraspecific competition ina Littorina littorea population can be detectedin a short-term investigation. Different size classesof L. littorea showed no significant differencein preferences when offered four kinds of eitherpossible food or substrata (Fucus vesiculosus,Ulva lactuca, Carcinus maenas, brick).Large and medium winkles preferred Fucusvesiculosus, followed by Ulva lactuca. Deadshore crabs (Carcinus maenas) were the leastpreferred objects for all size classes. On the firstday of the experiment bricks were more attractive tosmall littorines than to larger ones. Considering allfour days, the same ranking occurred for all sizeclasses: Fucus vesiculosus > Ulvalactuca > brick > Carcinus maenas. The reactionofjuveniles to increased densities was examined using anin situ caging experiment on a mussel bed. Meshsize of the cages allowed adult densities to beincreased while juveniles could escape by passingthrough the meshes. However, there was no significantemigration of small winkles even from cages with 10 to20 times natural density of large individuals. Ofgreater importance was the original number of winklesat the site. The available resources on the musselbeds appear to be sufficient to maintain a highpopulation density. Intraspecific competition does notseem to play a major role in this L. littorea-population.