Spatial-temporal distribution and recruitment of Stramonita haemastoma (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mollusca) on a sandstone bank in Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil

Distribuição espaço-temporal e recrutamento de Stramonita haemastoma (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mollusca) em um banco arenítico de Ilhéus, Bahia, Brasil

Abstracts

We examined aspects of the population ecology of the gastropod Stramonita haemastoma at Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. We collected monthly from October 2007 through September 2008 on a sandstone bank 1.5 km long, on which two points and two sampling levels were defined. We took five previously randomised replicates at each level, using a square enclosing an area of 0.0625 m². The snails were photographed, counted, and measured at the site. Both recruits and other individuals in the population preferentially inhabit the regions closer to the lower shore, where they are submerged for longer periods and are less subject to physiological stresses caused by temperature variation and desiccation. The cracks and holes in the bank serve as refuges and places for S. haemastoma to lay their egg capsules. Recruits were observed throughout the study period, and the population showed continuous reproduction.

ecology; gastropod; intertidal; macrobenthos

Neste estudo objetivou-se analisar aspectos da ecologia populacional do gastrópode Stramonita haemastoma em Ilhéus (Bahia). As amostragens foram realizadas mensalmente, entre outubro de 2007 e setembro de 2008, em um banco arenítico com 1,5 km de extensão, no qual foram estabelecidos dois pontos e dois níveis amostrais. Em cada nível foram feitas cinco repetições previamente aleatorizadas, utilizando-se um delimitador quadrado com 0,0625 m² de área. Os animais foram fotografados, quantificados e mensurados no local. Foi evidenciado que tanto recrutas quanto os demais indivíduos da população habitam preferencialmente as faixas mais próximas do infralitoral, onde, em função do maior tempo de submersão, os animais ficam menos sujeitos a estresses fisiológicos decorrentes de variação térmica e dessecação. Por apresentarem fendas e buracos, esses locais servem ainda de refúgio e ambiente para posturas de S. haemastoma. Foram observados recrutas ao longo de todo o período, evidenciando reprodução contínua.

ecologia; gastrópode; entremarés; macrobentos

ECOLOGY

Spatial-temporal distribution and recruitment of Stramonita haemastoma (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mollusca) on a sandstone bank in Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil

Distribuição espaço-temporal e recrutamento de Stramonita haemastoma (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mollusca) em um banco arenítico de Ilhéus, Bahia, Brasil

Santos, JJB.^*; Boehs, G.^*

Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz - UESC, Rod. Ilhéus-Itabuna, Km 16, CEP 45650-900, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil

ABSTRACT

We examined aspects of the population ecology of the gastropod Stramonita haemastoma at Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. We collected monthly from October 2007 through September 2008 on a sandstone bank 1.5 km long, on which two points and two sampling levels were defined. We took five previously randomised replicates at each level, using a square enclosing an area of 0.0625 m². The snails were photographed, counted, and measured at the site. Both recruits and other individuals in the population preferentially inhabit the regions closer to the lower shore, where they are submerged for longer periods and are less subject to physiological stresses caused by temperature variation and desiccation. The cracks and holes in the bank serve as refuges and places for S. haemastoma to lay their egg capsules. Recruits were observed throughout the study period, and the population showed continuous reproduction.

Keywords: ecology, gastropod, intertidal, macrobenthos.

RESUMO

Neste estudo objetivou-se analisar aspectos da ecologia populacional do gastrópode Stramonita haemastoma em Ilhéus (Bahia). As amostragens foram realizadas mensalmente, entre outubro de 2007 e setembro de 2008, em um banco arenítico com 1,5 km de extensão, no qual foram estabelecidos dois pontos e dois níveis amostrais. Em cada nível foram feitas cinco repetições previamente aleatorizadas, utilizando-se um delimitador quadrado com 0,0625 m² de área. Os animais foram fotografados, quantificados e mensurados no local. Foi evidenciado que tanto recrutas quanto os demais indivíduos da população habitam preferencialmente as faixas mais próximas do infralitoral, onde, em função do maior tempo de submersão, os animais ficam menos sujeitos a estresses fisiológicos decorrentes de variação térmica e dessecação. Por apresentarem fendas e buracos, esses locais servem ainda de refúgio e ambiente para posturas de S. haemastoma. Foram observados recrutas ao longo de todo o período, evidenciando reprodução contínua.

Palavras-chave: ecologia, gastrópode, entremarés, macrobentos.

1. Introduction

The Florida rocksnail Stramonita haemastoma (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mollusca: Thaididae), a species of oyster drill, occurs in the Americas from North Carolina to Florida, Texas, northern South America, and along the coasts of Brazil and Uruguay (Rios, 2009). It is abundant in rocky intertidal zones, inhabiting preferentially the middle (Ramirez et al., 2009) and subtidal levels (Rilov et al., 2001). It can be found on oyster reefs, submerged wrecks, and buoys in these regions (Thomé et al., 2004).

According to Butler (1985), this snail should be extremely successful in that it has no known natural predators in adulthood. However, the drills become damaged by commensals residing in and gradually eroding their hosts' shells. Stramonita haemastoma has a broad diet, preying on mussels and other shellfish such as Perna perna (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mytilidae) and Crassostrea rhizophorae (Guilding, 1828) (Ostreidae), besides crustaceans such as Chthamalus bisinuatus (Pilsbry, 1916) and Tetraclita stalactifera (Lamarck, 1818) (Duarte and Holler, 1987) and the colonial polychaete Phragmatopoma lapidosa (Kimberg, 1867) (Watanabe and Young, 2006). The prey may vary depending on the locale. In the absence of the normal food supply, the drill readily feeds on its companions (Butler, 1985).

Safriel et al. (1980) stated that in observations conducted in the 1960s and 1970s, this species appeared to have affected the distribution of mussel beds of the indigenous species Mytilaster minimus (Poli, 1795). The fact that S. haemastoma includes some economically exploited bivalves in its diet maximises the importance of understanding its ecological relationships. According to D'Asaro (1966) and Roller and Stickle (1988), this species can cause serious damage in oyster-growing areas. Stramonita haemastoma is one of the top predators of oysters and mussels in shellfish aquaculture facilities on the coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil (Ferreira and Magalhães, 2004; Nascimento and Pereira, 2004; Poli, 2004). On the other hand, it serves as food and subsistence for coastal communities in some parts of the Brazilian coast.

The sandstone banks consist of sands with 20% to 80% quartz, with the remainder composed of carbonate fragments, especially of shellfish and algae (Mabesoone, 1964). This study was conducted on a sandstone bank located in Ilhéus, on the southern coast of the state of Bahia. It is situated in the perimeter of the city of Ilhéus, the region is subject to various human impacts, such as dumping of untreated domestic sewage, fishing and recreational activities. We observed in a pilot study the presence of representatives of Porifera, Cnidaria, Anellida, Mollusca, Crustacea, Echinodermata and Chordata, and several species of algae, notably the predominance of green algae. We also observed that this area contains species of great ecological and economic importance, for example, sea urchins, lobsters, crabs, and fishes. The most abundant species are the molluscs Brachidontes solisianus (Orbigny, 1846) and Littorina ziczac (Gmelin, 1791), the crustacean Chthamalus bisinuatus (Pilsbry, 1916), and the echinoderm Echinometra lucunter (Linnaeus, 1758). Stramonita haemastoma is one of the most conspicuous species. The present study aimed to analyse the spatial and temporal distribution of this species in this location, assessing possible correlations with variations in temperature, salinity, and rainfall. We also investigated the occurrence of preferential time periods and stretches of bank for recruitment of the species in the region, and inventoried the macrobenthic species present near of S. haemastoma.

2. Materials and Methods

The study was conducted on a sandstone bank in Ilhéus, southern Bahia. The bank is about 1.5 km long and between 5 and 10 m wide. Along the bank are two distinct bands of occupation, the upper composed predominantly of the barnacle Chthamalus bisinuatus and the mussel Brachidontes solisianus, and another closer to sea level, mainly the sea urchin Echinometra lucunter. We selected two sampling points (P) for this study. P1 (14° 48' 89" S, 39° 01' 44" W) and P2 (14° 48' 55" S, 39° 01' 44" W) were 1 km apart, and P2 was slightly higher than P1 with respect to sea level. For each point, two sampling levels were selected (N1, lower and N2, upper), 7 m apart. N1 and N2 were respectively, the end of the sandstone bank nearest to and farthest from the lower shore, so that the samples were taken in locations with different periods of exposure (Figure 1). Five previously randomised sampling points were delimited at each level. Sampling was conducted at monthly intervals from October 2007 through September 2008. As the delimiter, we used a square with each side measuring 25 cm (Area: 0.0625 m²) (Foster et al., 1991). The location measurements were made using a tapeline. The individual drills were photographed, counted, and measured for height (mm), taken as the distance between the apex and the lower edge of the shell (Lindner, 1983), using a digital caliper. All animals were returned to their habitat after the measurements. As evidence of recruitment, we also observed the occurrence of laying (egg capsules) and the presence of juveniles in the months following the laying events. In addition, we recorded instances of macrobenthic species interacting with S. haemastoma. When necessary, some specimens of these species were collected for identification in the laboratory.

The temperature and salinity of the seawater near the holes of S. haemastoma were measured monthly during each sampling foray, using a standard mercury thermometer and a manual optical refractometer. We also measured the temperature and salinity in microhabitats (holes) of S. haemastoma over three days at low tide. The rainfall data were obtained from the records of the Climatological Station of CEPLAC - Executive Committee of the Cocoa Farming Plan. The fieldwork was conducted in daytime during low tide.

The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to determine the normal distribution of the data, which were previously transformed by log (x + 1). To test the significance of differences in the numbers of individuals over the sampling period (temporal distribution) and between points and levels (spatial distribution), we used a multifactorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) (α = 0.05). The a posteriori Tukey test was used to compare means between treatments that were significantly different (p < 0.05). To assess recruitment periods, we constructed histograms for the size and height of the specimens. The density in relation to abiotic factors (temperature, salinity, and rainfall) was assessed using the Pearson correlation analysis.

3. Results

The temperature of seawater adjacent to the sandstone bank ranged between 21-29 °C (mean 26 °C, SD ± 1.6) and salinity 33-37 (mean 35.3, SD ± 0.7). In microhabitats, the temperature ranged between 24-25 °C at the lower level and 24-29 °C at the upper level of both locations. The salinity was the same in both N1 and N2 of point P1 (35.5-36), and in N1 and N2 of P2 (36-39). The heaviest rainfall occurred in November 2007 (131 mm), March (252.5 mm), and June (113.2 mm) of 2008. The least rainfall occurred in May (27.5 mm) and in September (4 mm) of 2008 (Figure 2).

We analysed 2080 specimens of S. haemastoma. Significant differences (Ρ < 0.05) in abundance occurred between points, levels, and sampling months (Table 1). The mean number of individuals was 167 ind.m^-2 (SD ± 9) in P1, and 109 ind.m^-2 (SD ± 6) in P2. N1, which was closer to the lower shore, had a mean of 162 ind.m^-2 (SD ± 9) and N2 of 114 ind.m^-2 (SD ± 7). The lowest abundances (Ρ < 0.05) of S. haemastoma occurred in October 2007 and August 2008. During these months, the numbers of recruits were also low. The highest abundance occurred during summer, in February 2008. Density and salinity were positively correlated (r = 0.35 for the adjacent water, and 0.4 for water in the microhabitats).

The size-frequency histograms showed that recruitment occurred throughout the study period (Figures 3 and 4). Recruitment was predominant in the N1, closer to the lower shore, especially in the N1 of P1, where recruits were observed during the entire period. The most significant recruitment in this level occurred in July 2008 (Figure 3). There was also conspicuous egg-laying (egg capsules) in this level. The site with the lowest recruitment frequency was the N2 of P2, where there was no recruitment in several months (Figure 4).

Eleven species were near S. haemastoma, and nine of them were recorded in all months. These species include representatives of the phyla Cnidaria, Anellida, Mollusca, Crustacea, and Echinodermata, and green algae (Table 2).

During the study period, the release of domestic sewage on site was seen on several occasions. In one sampling, a local resident dumped guts of fish, which attract the black-headed vulture Coragyps atratus (Bechstein, 1793), bird-eating scavengers, always present on site. Fishing (fish, lobsters and octopus) is a common activity here.

4. Discussion

Stramonita haemastoma preferred stretches closer to the lower shore, as also observed in previous studies (Rilov et al., 2001; Calil, 2007). This strategy of inhabiting areas with longer submersion times probably minimises the effects of thermal variation and desiccation. The presence of holes and crevices, especially in N1, presumably confers protection from predators. Rilov et al. (2001) also observed higher abundances of S. haemastoma in the lower intertidal zone on the coast of Israel, and attributed this to greater availability of food and shelter. In this study, protection against the physiological stress caused by temperature variations explains why there were fewer individuals of S. haemastoma at the upper level of both sampling sites, where the temperature varies more than at the lower level. Similarly, the salinity at point 2 varied more and was higher, indicating greater exposure. Thus, it is possible to associate the difference in the spatial distribution of individuals to the time of exposure to air and the existence of shelter. The slight positive correlation between density and salinity may have been influenced by the high density of S. haemastoma in some periods, as in February 2008. Human disturbance did not appear to affect the densities of S. haemastoma, which were highly abundant in the months with more tourists (December-February). The recruitment observed throughout the years reflects the lack of clearly defined seasons in the region. Notwithstanding, the absence of recruitment in P2 in March 2008 may have been caused by osmotic stress due to the heavy rainfall during this period. Studies in areas with well-defined seasons showed density peaks and breeding periods at different times: density peaks in late autumn and early winter, associated with reproduction in autumn, and greater recruitment in winter were observed on the coast of the state of São Paulo (Marini, 1988; Magalhães, 1988; Duarte, 1990). Breeding peaks were also observed on the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro during the summer (Lavrado, 1992).

Among the living organisms close to S. haemastoma in this location were Brachidontes solisianus, Acmaea subrugosa (Orbigny, 1846), and Chthamalus bisinuatus. These animals are among the main prey of this species (Duarte and Holler, 1987) and their presence probably influences the spatial distribution of this gastropod. As do other predatory gastropods, S. haemastoma inhabits environments rich in potential food (Morgan, 1985; Rilov et al., 2001, 2004; Ramirez et al., 2009). The association of several groups of animals with S. haemastoma shows the importance of the species in this environment, since it is an important agent in the food chain in rocky intertidal areas and in cultivated oysters (Butler, 1985; Ferreira and Magalhães, 2004; Nascimento and Pereira, 2004; Watanabe and Young, 2006). Studies on these relationships are needed.

We conclude that recruits as well as other individuals in the population preferentially inhabit places that are submerged for longer periods and provide places for refuge, which decreases the stress from temperature variation and desiccation. In this study it was not possible, from in situ observations, to infer how much human influence is impacting the local biota. Apparently, the biota is not significantly affected in terms of survival, density and growth. According to Coutinho (1999), the release of sewage affects the growth of benthic species, and trash, pollution and overfishing are among the main causes of decline of biological diversity of the benthos. Therefore, it is necessary that a study on the effect of human disturbance on the biota is done on site.

Acknowledgements - The authors are grateful to CAPES for sponsoring the project, and to UESC for granting a scientific initiation scholarship to the first author.

Received May 3, 2010

Accepted November 8, 2010

Distributed November 30, 2011

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  24 Nov 2011
• Date of issue
  Nov 2011

History

• Received
  05 Mar 2010
• Accepted
  08 Nov 2010