Abstract

AGUILAR-ESTRADA, Luis Gabriel; RUIZ-BOIJSEAUNEAU, Ivette  and  RODRIGUEZ, Dení. Juvenile stages of limpet-like gastropod and chiton (Mollusca) species associated with intertidal macroalgae from Guerrero, Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2017, vol.88, n.2, pp.280-299. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmb.2017.03.021.

The Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo area has highly diverse macroalgal assemblages, with a small cespitose growth and juvenile stages of different mollusks. The present work aims to introduce the juvenile stages of limpet-like gastropods and chitons associated with these assemblages in the rocky intertidal zone. The sampling was done during the annual cycle of 2014 (January, May, July and November), 108 samples of macroalgae and associated mollusks were collected in the coastal localities El Palmar beach, municipal dock and the beach parapet of Las Gatas. A total of 472 specimens of mollusks were collected — 229 limpet-like gastropods and 243 chitons — belonging to 34 species, 25 of them were already recorded for the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo area by other authors, as opposed to Fissurella deroyae, F. microtrema and F. spongiosa, which are new records for the area, being previously found only in the Acapulco area. Additionally, Calyptraea conica, Lottia strongiana, Lucapinella callomarginata and Siphonaria brannani are new records for Guerrero, and Crepidula marginalis and Tectura biradiata for the Mexican Pacific. Of the specimens associated with the macroalgae, 91% were juvenile; therefore, the macroalgal assemblage is considered a site for larval establishment and breeding of the studied mollusks.

Keywords : Juvenile stages; Chitons; Limpet-like gastropods; Macroalgae.

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