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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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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.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Faura Amade, Cassamo Hassane, Saleh Yahya, Inês Silva and Sophie Conroy-Dalton for help in the field, Gil Penha-Lopes for laboratory analysis and Inês Rosário and Bernardine Everett for help with the map. This study is part of the research project TRANSMAP (INCO-CT2004-510862) funded by the European Commission, 6th Framework. The present study complies with the current laws of Mozambique, concerning experimental procedures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IMAR, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Nossa Senhora do Cabo 936, Cascais, 2750-374, Portugal

    Paulo Torres & José Paula

  2. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, C.P. 257, Moçambique

    Avelino Alfiado & Adriano Macia

  3. Oceanographic Research Institute, P. O. Box 10712, Marine Parade, Durban, 4056, South Africa

    David Glassom

  4. Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, P. O. Box 668, Zanzibar, Tanzania

    Narriman Jiddawi

  5. Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK

    David G. Reid

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  1. Paulo Torres
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  2. Avelino Alfiado
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  3. David Glassom
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  5. Adriano Macia
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Correspondence to Paulo Torres.

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Handling editor: P. Viaroli

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Torres, P., Alfiado, A., Glassom, D. et al. Species composition, comparative size and abundance of the genus Littoraria (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) from different mangrove strata along the East African coast. Hydrobiologia 614, 339–351 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-008-9518-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-008-9518-6

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