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FECUNDITY OF THE ACORN BARNACLE BALANUS PACIFICUS PILSBRY: A FUGITIVE SPECIES 1
Author(s) -
Hurley Ann C.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1973.18.3.0386
Subject(s) - barnacle , fecundity , balanus , acorn , ephemeral key , biology , ecology , crustacean , population , demography , sociology
The distribution of Balanus pacificus along the coasts of California and Baja California indicates that it probably is a fugitive species. This barnacle usually occurs on small ephemeral objects in the sand rather than in established many‐species communities on rock. It occurred in only 11% of the 94 rocky areas but in 83% of the 53 sandy areas examined. It is well suited for such an existence; when compared to other barnacles, it shows a high fecundity and an early age of maturity. It also breeds continuously throughout the year and is thus able to take advantage of suitable substrates as they become available.