Limpets constitute an important key species in the intertidal zone. The limpets’ assemblage is evaluated in Plane Island (Paloma Island, Algerian West coast) by detailed censuses which were performed in 8 zones in the main island and 9 islets. Results allowed the estimation of a total population of 3993 of the endangered Patella ferruginea (1.78ind/m), 1861 P. rustica (0.82ind/m), and 383 of the blue Mediterranean limpet P. caerulea (0.17 ind/m). The ferruginous limpet distribution around Plane Island was influenced by abiotic factors as hydrodynamics and the sea current direction. Conversely, anthropogenic factors had an important impact despite the island's distance from the mainland. This study finds that in the face of global warming, the island surface will be reduced, however limpets will have an important contribution to the island's areas and its conservation of biodiversity.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.