On the behaviour of barnacles: I. The relation of cirral and other activities to temperature

Abstract

In previous papers (Southward, 1950, 1951 Southward & Crisp, 1952, 1954 a, b: see also Kitching, 1950 Moore & Kitching, 1939) it has been shown that the geographical distribution of several common intertidal animals in Britain is related to the temperatures prevailing in the different regions. Species of generally southern distribution in Europe are commonest on, or restricted to, the south and west coasts of Britain, where temperatures are higher, while those species of essentially northern character are commoner in the north and east where the temperatures are lower. Where species of northern and southern distribution occur side by side in the same habitat, and are in competition, it seems important to know the range of temperatures over which processes such as feeding and respiration can be carried out, as well as the often narrower range of temperatures within which breeding can take place (cf. Orton, 1920). For example, the two common intertidal barnacles of the European coasts, Chthamalus stellatus (Poli) and Balanus balanoides (L.), occur side by side only in Britain and Northern France, where they reach the northern and southern limits respectively of their distributions. From the distributions it can be inferred that the vital activities of the two species are keyed to different temperature ranges. This implies that for each species there is an optimum range of temperature, above or below which the species becomes less efficient at feeding, respiring or reproducing. Where the two species occur side by side, there may be periods of the year when one of them is living outside its optimum range, and is at a disadvantage compared with the other species.

The Spread ofElminius ModestusDarwin In North-West Europe

“…Barnes & Powell, 1953;Southward, 1953). Where the water is sufficiently clear and where, as in shelter, limpets are few, the growth of algae prevents barnacles from colonizing much of the illuminated surface of rocks.…”

Influence of sea temperature, substratum and wave exposure on rocky intertidal communities: an analysis of faunal and floral biomass

“…Temperature has long been recognised as a major factor governing species distribution (e.g. Isaac, 1938;Stephenson, 1944;Lewis, 1964) and mechanisms for this have been examined by Southward (1955Southward ( , 1958, Crisp (1957), and Lewis (1964) amongst many others. Stability of substratum is obviously important and various properties of the substratum may lead to significant differences in the populations present (e.g.…”

The neozoanElminius modestus Darwin (Crustacea, Cirripedia): Possible explanations for its successful invasion in European water

“…5. Southward (1955a) stated in his summary that the immigrant E. m o d e s t u s was more active at lower temperatures than were the native southern species and at higher temperatures than w e r e the native northern species, and over the whole of its range showed a much greater frequency of cirral beat than any of the native species e x a m i n e d (see Fig. 5).…”

“…5. Cirral activity of adult E. modestus and S. balanoides related to t e m p e r a t u r e at different seasons (after Southward, 1955a).…”

“…6. Mean specific growth rate (percentage increase in length per day) at different tidal levels for juvenile and adult E. rnodestus and S. balanoides (after Barnes & Barnes, 1962) Foster, 1968Southward, 1955aSouthward, ,b, 1957Southward, , 1962Southward, , 1964. Fig.…”