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Validation of a planimetric procedure to quantify stress in Littorina littorea (Gastropoda: Mollusca): is it independent of the reproductive cycle?

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Advances in Littorinid Biology

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 111))

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Abstract

This study forms part of a larger project in which five planimetric parameters have been used to study changes in the digestive epithelium of Littorina littorea under different environmental and physiological conditions. Our aim was to examine the effect of the reproductive cycle on these parameters in order to assess their usefulness as indicators of stress.

A one way anova shows that the absolute parameters of mean epithelial thickness (MET), mean diverticulum radius (MDR) and mean luminal radius (MLR) vary significantly depending on the time of the year. This variation is highly correlated to the amount of digestive tissue present and hence negatively correlated to the reproductive state because gonad and digestive tissue volume are inversely related. Consequently, these parameters are not good indicators of stress. However, whereas the absolute size of the digestive acinus varies with the reproductive state of the animal, the MET, MDR and MLR retain the same proportions and therefore the ratios MET/MDR and MLR/MET remain constant. This makes them useful indicators of stress because they are independent of intrinsic variables such as the reproductive cycle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zitologi eta Histologi Laborategia, Biologia Zelularra eta Zientzia Morfologikoen Saila, Zientzi Fakultatea, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, 644 P.K., 48080, Bilbo, Spain

    G. Calvo-Ugarteburu, V. Saez & E. Angulo

  2. Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa

    G. Calvo-Ugarteburu & C. D. McQuaid

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  1. G. Calvo-Ugarteburu
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  2. V. Saez
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  3. C. D. McQuaid
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  4. E. Angulo
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P. J. Mill C. D. McQuaid

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© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Calvo-Ugarteburu, G., Saez, V., McQuaid, C.D., Angulo, E. (1995). Validation of a planimetric procedure to quantify stress in Littorina littorea (Gastropoda: Mollusca): is it independent of the reproductive cycle?. In: Mill, P.J., McQuaid, C.D. (eds) Advances in Littorinid Biology. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 111. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0435-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0435-7_4

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