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Behavioural mechanisms of population regulation in the limpet, Acmaea digitalis Breen, Paul Allan

Abstract

Two hypotheses that described possible mechanisms of population regulation in Acmaea digitalis were examined in this study. The first hypothesis stated that local populations could be regulated by means of changes in the homing behaviour of individual limpets. These changes would occur as a result of feedback from density changes. Results from experiments which tested this hypothesis were inconclusive. The second hypothesis stated that local populations could be regulated by means of upward migration of limpets if such migration were density dependent; and that mortality during summer would also act in a density dependent way. This hypothesis was substantiated experimentally, although it was not shown that the mechanism does indeed regulate local populations. Possible explanations of homing and migration behaviour are presented and discussed.

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