Environmental Acclimation in the Limpet Patella vulgata L.

Abstract

THE differences in intertidal distribution of the two British species of prosobranch limpets Patella vulgata L. and P. aspera Lamarck have been well documented. P. aspera is limited to low shore-levels on shores exposed to wave action, while P. vulgata is widely distributed between high and low water levels on both exposed and sheltered shores^1,2. During my investigation into the reasons for the differences in their distribution in the Clyde Sea area it was found that populations of P. vulgata from high shore-levels display physiological differences in several ecologically important characters when compared with those living at low shore-levels. Differences were observed in metabolic rate, the rate of loss of water under desiccating conditions and the ability to withstand loss of body water.