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Size- and sex-based habitat partioning by Lepetodrilus fucensis near hydrothermal vents on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, Northeast Pacific

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 10:57 authored by Bates, AE
This study examines habitat partitioning by a hydrothermal vent limpet, Lepetodrilus fucensis, along environmental gradients and among vents with differing levels of flux. To test for spatial patterns in size structure, two distances from isolated vent flows were sampled (0-25 cm and 51-75 cm). Lepetodrilus fucensis displays a size gradient: juveniles are rare in flow (relative abundance < 5%, density = 56 +- 46 individuals.dm-2) and abundant peripherally (>95%, 2616 +- 2002 individuals.dm-2). Next, sex-based habitat partitioning was examined. High flux locations are female-biased (proportion male = 0.34 +- 0.07), whereas males are overrepresented peripherally and at waning vents (0.64 +- 0.08). The spatial mismatch between the sexes within a vent is driven by differential habitat occupation at decimetre scales. One hypothesis to explain this pattern is that females suffer a higher cost of reproduction and outcompete males for habitats with high food availability. Indeed, relatively higher percentages of females in waning vents had empty gonads in comparison with males (32%-78% vs. 0%-16%, respectively). Furthermore, females transplanted to the vent periphery for one year displayed much lower survivorship than males (2% vs. 27%). This finding suggests that differential survivorship between the sexes when food is limited can yield male-biased populations at waning vents.

History

Publication title

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

Volume

65

Issue

Monthly

Pagination

2332-2341

ISSN

0706-652X

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Natl Research Council Canada

Place of publication

Research Journals, Montreal Rd, Ottawa, Canada, Ontario, K1A 0R6

Rights statement

Copyright 2008 NRC Canada

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Marine biodiversity

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