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Energetics of High and Low Populations of the Limpet, Acmaea Scabra (Gould)
Author(s) -
Sutherland John P.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1934229
Subject(s) - energetics , range (aeronautics) , ecology , energy flow , limpet , habitat , biology , adaptation (eye) , biomass (ecology) , energy (signal processing) , statistics , mollusca , mathematics , materials science , neuroscience , composite material
Individuals of Acmaea scabra on the "edge" of the species' range have been shown to grow faster and to attain a larger size than individuals in the "center" of the range. As a result, the subpopulation on the "edge" contained a higher biomass (Sutherland 1970). Energy flow was also measured during that study; the data are used here to test the hypothesis that energy flow should be greater in the "center" of the species' range, since that is the habitat where physiological adaptation is most precise. However, the flow of energy is shown to be approximately equal for both populations and the hypothesis is refuted. The possible reasons for this outcome are discussed.