Limpets on the Rocky Shores of Southern Antique, Panay, Island: Distribution, Abundance, and Size Structure

Anonymous

by: Demie P. Putong, Karen A. Villarta-Lane

Abstract

Limpets are key herbivores in marine ecosystems, especially in high-energy rocky intertidal habitats where they regulate algal proliferation, create microhabitats, and foster unique biological communities. Despite their ecological significance, the limpet ecology in the Philippines remains understudied. This study assessed the distribution, abundance, and size structure of limpets on rocky shores at the southern tip of Panay Island, Philippines. Three study sites were surveyed using the standard transect-quadrat method to determine species composition and densities, with shell lengths (SL) measured to assess population size structure. A total of 331 limpets were recorded across all sites, representing three species: Siphonaria javanica, Siphonaria laciniosa, and Patelloida saccharina. The abundance of each species varied between sites. S. javanica exhibited the highest density, with an overall mean of 2.27 individuals 0.25 m-2, while P. saccharina had the lowest count with only four individuals observed. Limpets predominantly occupied the mid shore (1.00 m above Chart Datum, C.D.) and high shore (1.50 m above C.D.) levels, with each species demonstrating a preference for specific tidal heights. Shell lengths ranged from 1.00 to 29.00 mm, with most individuals having relatively small shells. The average SLs were 3.37 mm for S. javanica, 6.99 mm for S. laciniosa, and 5.60 mm for P. saccharina. This study is the first to document limpets on the rocky shores of Panay Island, providing baseline data on their ecology in the Philippines. Continued field monitoring and studies on population and reproductive biology are recommended to further understand the dynamics of these limpet populations.

Keywords: limpets, rocky shore, abundance, vertical distribution, shell length