Comparison of Growth Rate and Density of Gastropoda in the Intertidal Zone

Abstract

The intertidal zone, the smallest area in the ocean located between high and low tides, exhibits the greatest variation in environmental factors. Seagrass ecosystems influence biological and physical processes in coastal areas. Gastropods are among the biota found in seagrass areas, both on the surface and within sediments. This review employs a literature study technique, compiling articles from international journals over the past decade on the growth rate and population density of gastropods, using the ScienceDirect database with relevant keywords. Articles were analyzed based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The maximum body size and density of gastropods from three populations were measured using a digital caliper with an accuracy of 0.01 mm and converted to density per square meter. Growth rate testing was conducted through mark-recapture methods every two months over a year. Three populations of Nerita japonica showed significant variation in maximum body size and density. The S3U population ceased growth at a small size, S3I at a medium size, and R1 at a large size. The density of N. japonica was lower on open rocky shores compared to sheltered shores, similar to the pattern observed in Nerita atramentosa. This study demonstrates that the growth rate of N. japonica can vary even over small geographic distances, reflecting differences in maximum body size and the diversity of fundamental species characteristics that influence their way of life.