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Ecological energetics of Nerita (Archaeogastropoda, Neritacea) populations on Barbados, West Indies

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Abstract

Population energy budgets estimated on the assumption of steady state conditions for Nerita tessellata Gmelin, N. versicolor Gmelin, and N. peloronta L. on Barbados, W. Indies, are presented. Large differences in population structure, and hence energetics, occurred at different localities along the beach. Relatively high proportions (81 to 88%) of the assimilated energy were lost via metabolism. Assimilation efficiencies ranged from 39 to 43%, net growth efficiencies from 5 to 13%, and ecological efficiencies from 3 to 7%. For each species, production (P), energy flow (A) and total energy consumption (C) were expressed as functions of animal size, in order to facilitate gross estimations of the energy components for other populations for which data on size-frequency and density are available. Respiration studies of all three species in the laboratory failed to detect differences between respiration rates in air or under seawater.

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Author notes

  1. R. N. Hughes

    Present address: Department of Zoology, University College of North Wales, Bangør, Caernarvonshire N. Wales, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

    R. N. Hughes

  2. The Bellairs Research Institute of McGill University, St. James, Barbados, W. Indies

    R. N. Hughes

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  1. R. N. Hughes
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Communicated by J. Bunt, Miami

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Hughes, R.N. Ecological energetics of Nerita (Archaeogastropoda, Neritacea) populations on Barbados, West Indies. Marine Biology 11, 12–22 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00348016

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00348016

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