Species composition, comparative size and abundance of the genus Littoraria (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) from different mangrove strata along the East African coast |
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Authors: | Paulo Torres Avelino Alfiado David Glassom Narriman Jiddawi Adriano Macia David G Reid José Paula |
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Institution: | 1. IMAR, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Nossa Senhora do Cabo 936, Cascais, 2750-374, Portugal 2. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, C.P. 257, Mo?ambique 3. Oceanographic Research Institute, P. O. Box?10712, Marine Parade, Durban, 4056, South Africa 4. Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, P. O. Box?668, Zanzibar, Tanzania 5. Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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Abstract: | Variation in the abundance, distribution and size of four species of mangrove littorinid gastropods (genus Littoraria) was investigated using a nested sampling design at different spatial scales along the East African coast, from Tanzania
to South Africa. Littorinid abundance and diversity decreased abruptly south of Inhaca Island at the southern end of the study
area. All species presented a large-scale spatial variation in abundance, with L. subvittata showing the greatest abundance while L. intermedia was rare. Littoraria scabra and L. intermedia were found mainly at the seaward edge of the forests. Littoraria subvittata increased in abundance in the middle of the forest and towards the landward side. Littoraria pallescens occurred mainly at the seaward edge and in the middle areas in the Rhizophora zone. These small-scale variations show contrasting specific distribution patterns within the mangrove, likely reflecting
different tolerances to physical factors and biological interactions. All species appeared decreased in shell height from
north to south. Littoraria scabra was always significantly larger than other species at all mangrove study sites.
Handling editor: P. Viaroli |
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Keywords: | Spatial distribution Size composition Littoraria Mangrove East Africa |
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