Density and ecological aspect of endangered limpet Patella ferruginea in the western Algerian coast: Implications for the Conservation

Larbi Doukara, Kamel

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2019.28015

Density and ecological aspect of endangered limpet Patella ferruginea in the western Algerian coast: Implications for the Conservation

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Kamel Larbi Doukara

10.21608/ejabf.2019.28015

Abstract

The endemic limpet Patella ferruginea is the most endangered invertebrate in the Mediterranean Sea.The study of this species, as a species in danger of extinction, was carried out to provide a detailed map of the distribution of P. ferruginea and implication for preservation as well as its morphological types. A total of 1262 specimens of P. ferruginea were found in two areas of the Algerian western coast: one continental (Cap Falcon) and the other insular (Habibas Islands). The mean size of P. ferruginea on the Habibas Islands (61.2 mm) was significantly (p < 0.001) greater than that on Cap Falcon (39.5 mm). The best Size–frequency distribution of this species was observed inHabibas Islands, with the largest specimen measured 137 mm. P. ferruginea in Algeria showed the highest mean density ever reported (1.5 individual/m). The population structure was characterized by high numbers of females. Area accessibility had greatly impacted the occurrence of this species. Two different morphological types of P. ferruginea has been recorded in the studied areas where the results demonstrated the dominance of the Lamarcki form, while the Rouxi form was confined to exposed sites.

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