The effects of limpet morphology on predation by adult cancrid crabs

• Published in: Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology 2014-02, Vol.451, p.9-15
• Main Authors: Tyler, Carrie L., Leighton, Lindsey R., Kowalewski, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cancer productus; Crustacea; Decapoda; Functional morphology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastropoda; Invertebrates; Lottia digitalis; Lottiidae; Mollusca; Shell ornament
• ISSN: 0022-0981; 1879-1697
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jembe.2013.10.022

Limpets are important prey for some crab species, yet little is known about the role of the limpet shell in defense against crab predation. In an effort to identify limpet shell morphologies that decrease vulnerability to predation by adult cancrid crabs, laboratory feeding trials using three common species of Pacific Northwest limpets (Lottia digitalis, L. pelta and L. scutum) were conducted to assess how different shell morphologies affect mortality and handling time. Large size, shell ornament (radial ridges), and low-spired geometry were expected to result in increased survivorship, and/or longer handling times. Although mortality varied between species, no relationship between size and increased survivorship was observed. Contrary to the expectation that radial ribs resist predation, individuals with smooth morphologies experienced lower mortality. Furthermore, binomial logistic regression indicated that the presence of shell ornament was the only significant explanatory variable in predicting mortality. As species possessing high-spires and ridges may typically occur high in the intertidal where predation risk due to crabs is relatively lower, shell ornament is likely an adaptation to physical factors such as thermal stress, and does not appear to be antipredatory for limpets. •Exploring the role of limpet morphology with respect to predation by cancrid crabs.•Mortality varied among species, no relationship between size and survivorship.•Individuals with smooth morphologies experienced lower mortality.•Shell ornament was the only significant explanatory variable predicting mortality.•Shell ornament is likely an adaption to physical factors such as thermal stress.