Abstract
Limpets reduce the cover of algae and barnacles on intertidal rocks, but do not inhabit ship-fouling communities. Patella caerulea (L.) from Israeli Mediterranean shores were successfully transplanted onto 20x20 cm initially non-fouled steel panels in 1983–1984, hung vertically in a commercial port at depths of 1 and 5.5 m. The limpets (15 individuals of ca 20 to 25 cm in length on each panel) controlled the fouling organisms that settled on the panels throughout a month of lowest settlement (December) and throughout a month of highest settlement (August). After 7 d of immersion the limpets restricted the total cover of fouling organisms from 2.4 and 4.8% to 0.6 and 0.2% (at 1 and 5.5 m depths, respectively), and brought down the barnacle density from 1.2 and 2.6 to 0.3 and 0.4 individuals per cm2 (at 1 and 5.5 m depth, respectively). After 26 d the equivalent figures were a cover of 72 and 92% reduced to 14 and 9% and a density of 2.9 and 1.1 reduced to 0.3 and 0.2 individuals per cm2. The limpets presumably achieved this by preventing the attachment of propagules and by removing already settled organisms through their movements during grazing excursions.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Branch, G. M.: Intraspecific competition in Patella cochlear (Born). J. Anim. Ecol. 44, 263–282 (1975)
Branch, G. M. and M. I. Branch: Competition between Cellana tramoserica (Sowerby) (Gastropoda) and Patiriella exigua (Lamarck) (Asteroidea), and their influence on algal standing stocks. J. exp. mar. Biol. 48, 35–49 (1980)
Cologer, C. P.: Development of long life antifouling paints and shipboard evaluation. Naval Engineers Journal, January 1984, 25–32 (1984)
Dayton, P. K.: Competition, disturbance, and community organization: the provision and subsequent utilization of space in a rocky intertidal community. Ecol. Monogr. 41, 351–389 (1971)
Denley, E. J. and A. J. Underwood: Experiments on factors influencing settlement, survivorship and growth of two species of barnales in N.S.W.. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 36, 269–293 (1979)
Fisher, R. A. and F. Yates: Statistical tables for biological, agricultural and medical research, 146 pp. London: Oliver and Boyd 1963
Jones, N. S.: Browsing of Patella. Nature, Lond. 158, 557–558 (1946)
Lipkin, Y. and U. N. Safriel: Intertidal zonation on rocky shores at Mikhmoret (Mediterranean, Israel). J. Ecol. 59, 1–30 (1971)
Lunn, I.: Antifouling, 86 pp. Thame: BCA publications 1974
Menge, B. A.: Organization of New England rocky intertidal community: role of predation competition, and environmental heterogeneity. Ecol. Monogr. 46, 355–393 (1976)
Nie, N. H., C. H. Hull, J. G. Jenkins, K. Steinbrenner and D. H. Bent: SPSS, Statistical package for the social sciences, 675 pp. New York: McGraw-Hill 1975
Nie, N. H., C. H. Hull, J. G. Jenkins, K. Steinbrenner and D. H. Bent: SPSS Update 7–9. New procedures and facilities for releases, 402 pp. New York: McGraw-Hill 1981
Oren, O. H.: Seasonal changes in the physical and chemical characteristics and the production in the low trophic level of the Mediterranean waters of Israel. Ph.D. dissertation, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem 1970
Pisanti, S.: Spatial comperation in the fouling community of Haifa harbour. M.Sc. dissertation, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem 1972
Smith, F. G. W.: Effect of water currents upon the attachment and growth of barnacles. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 90, 51 (1946)
Siegel, S.: Nonparametric statistics for the behavioral sciences, 312 pp. New York: McGraw-Hill 1956
Simmonds, M.: The case against tributyltin. Oryx 20, 217–220 (1986)
Stebbing, A. R. D.: Organotins and water quality-some lessons to be learned. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 16, 383–390 (1985)
Underwood, A. J.: The effects of grazing by gastropods and physical factors on the upper limit of distribution of intertidal macroalgae. Oecologia 46, 201–213 (1980)
Underwood, A. J.: Techniques of analysis of variance in experimental marine biology and ecology. Ocean. mar. biol. A. Rev. 19, 513–605 (1981)
Underwood, A. J., E. J. Denley and M. J. Moran: Experimental analyses of the structure and dynamics of mid-shore rocky intertidal communities in New South Wales. Oecologia 56, 202–219 (1983)
U. S. Naval Institute: Marine biofouling and its prevention, 263 pp. Annapolis, MD: U.S. Naval Institute 1952
Vischer, J. P.: Nature and extent of fouling on ships. Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish. 43, 183 (1928)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Safriel, U.N., Erez, N. Effect of limpets on the fouling of ships in the Mediterranean. Mar. Biol. 95, 531–537 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393096
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393096