Biological characterization of two species of Littorinidae: Melarhaphe neritoides (Linnaeus, 1758) and Echinolittorina punctata (Gmelin, 1791) along the rocky coasts of the North and North-East of Tunisia
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1
Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunisia
The Littorinidae (mollusks gastropods) have done the subject of several studies in the world. In Tunisia, only two representatives of this family have been reported, which are Echinolittorina punctata (Gmelin, 1791) and Melarhaphe neritoides (Linnaeus, 1758). However, their ecobiology remains little known. For this reason, the present work has targeted the study of some biological traits of these two species along the rocky coast of the north and north-east of Tunisia. Nine stations were prospected during spring 2017 and a total of 1442 individuals were collected, including 720 of Echinolittorina punctata and 722 of Melarhaphe neritoides. On each specimen, three measurements were taken : length of the shell (L), width of the shell (l) and the length of the operculum (L. op), using an electronic caliper (1/100 mm). The total weight (Wt) and the weight of the fresh meat (Wf) were measured using a precision balance. Moreover, condition index and condition factor have been estimated also relative growth and size-mass relationship have been effectuated. The results from the condition index, in both species, showed that the values of this index are almost similar in most stations with an increase at La Goulette. This could be related to the trophic availability which would allow a good development of the individuals. As for the condition factor, for the species Melarhaphe neritoides, the values are almost the same in most stations. As well. in Echinolittorina punctata, the values of this factor are alike in all the stations except for La Goulette. The examination of relative growth, in both species, showed a strong correlation between shell length and width, with a minor allometry. This would affirm that growth is slower in width than height. Concerning the realtive growth between the length of the shell and the length of the operculum, a minor allometry has been signaled in two species. While the correlation between this two variables, is very strongly narrow in Echinolittorina punctata and medium in Melarhaphe neritoides. The study of the size-total mass relationship, in both species, suggested a strong correlation with a major allometry, which would indicate that weight is growing faster than height.. The same results have been obtained for the relation size-fresh meat mass.
Keywords:
Echinolittorina punctata,
Melarhaphe neritoides,
rocky shores of Tunisia,
condition index,
Condition factor,
Relative growth,
size-mass relationship.
Conference:
IMMR'18 | International Meeting on Marine Research 2018, Peniche, Portugal, 5 Jul - 6 Jul, 2018.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Biodiversity, Conservation and Coastal Management
Citation:
Ben Ammar
A,
Boulajfene
W and
Tlig Zouari
S
(2019). Biological characterization of two species of Littorinidae: Melarhaphe neritoides (Linnaeus, 1758) and Echinolittorina punctata (Gmelin, 1791) along the rocky coasts of the North and North-East of Tunisia.
Front. Mar. Sci.
Conference Abstract:
IMMR'18 | International Meeting on Marine Research 2018.
doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2018.06.00030
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Received:
03 May 2018;
Published Online:
07 Jan 2019.
*
Correspondence:
Prof. Sabiha Tlig Zouari, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia, s.zouaritlig@gmail.com