Mucus trails in the rocky intertidal

Author(s)
P. Peduzzi, G. J. Herndl
Abstract

Examines the significance of mucus trails derived from the herbivorous gastropods Patella caerulea, Monodonta turbinata and Tegula sp. in enhancing microbial activity in marine rocky intertidal and sublittoral zones. The breakdown of mucus material by bacterial enzymes can provide a microenvironment enriched in regenerated inorganic nutrient. The estimated high areal trail mucus production (81 g mucus dry wt m-2yr-1 for P. caerulea, 544 g mucus dry wt m-2yr-1 for M. turbinata) suggests that mucus is a significant source of microbial activity in some nearshore waters. -from Authors

Organisation(s)
Functional and Evolutionary Ecology
Journal
Marine Ecology Progress Series
Volume
75
Pages
267-274
No. of pages
8
ISSN
0171-8630
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3354/meps075267
Publication date
01-1991
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
106021 Marine biology
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Aquatic Science, Ecology
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/mucus-trails-in-the-rocky-intertidal(a1a9249f-2b6b-47e2-ae7c-0d79cf746c5d).html