Preliminary observations on factors affecting foraging activity in the limpet Patella vulgata

Abstract

Activity of limpets in an Irish sea lough, Lough Hyne, was suppressed during heavy rainfall; osmotic stress from dilution appears to have led to increased mortality in transplanted limpets. Activity increased as tides progressed from neaps to springs, and for limpets low on the shore it was enhanced by wave action. Lack of activity in calm water may reduce predation pressure from crabs. Either low relative humidity or dryness of the rock diminished activity of low-water limpets. Differences in feeding activity between low- and high-water limpets may relate to food supply, since more food was available low on the shore, and the guts of low-water limpets contained more diatoms. -from Authors