Ecology Summary - Littorina keenae

Language:

Ecology of Littorina keenae

Main Ref.	Gallivan, G. and J. Danforth, 1999
Remarks	Found in the splash and high intertidal zones. Scrapes films of diatoms, blue-green algae and green algae off rocks. When not feeding or crawling, it prevents water loss by secreting a mucous film to attach its foot to surfaces. The mucous seal and operculum (trap door), which snugly fits into the shell, are so effective that they remain alive for two or three months without being submerged under water. They need only to get their gills wet from the water's spray (Ref. 312).

Main Ref.

Gallivan, G. and J. Danforth, 1999

Remarks

Found in the splash and high intertidal zones. Scrapes films of diatoms, blue-green algae and green algae off rocks. When not feeding or crawling, it prevents water loss by secreting a mucous film to attach its foot to surfaces. The mucous seal and operculum (trap door), which snugly fits into the shell, are so effective that they remain alive for two or three months without being submerged under water. They need only to get their gills wet from the water's spray (Ref. 312).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Littorina keenae may be found.

Habitat

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.	Gallivan, G. and J. Danforth, 1999
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type	mainly plants/detritus (troph. 2-2.19)
Feeding type Ref.
Feeding habit	grazing on aquatic plants
Feeding habit Ref.

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	original sample		unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition
From individual food items	2.00	0.00			Trophic level and s.e. inferred from exclusive plant/detritus food items.
Ref.

Back to Search

Comments & Corrections