Abstract
Abstract This study deals with the distribution of shell colour morphs of the marine snail Littorina mariae, in a non-tidal area in western Sweden. Factors important to this distribution and frequency differences between spring and autumn were examined. I looked forinteractions among four factors: species of algae (Fucus), algal morphology, shell colour, and snail age. All possible three-way interactions were significant, but there was no four-way interaction among factors. This means that the colour morphs were unevenly distributed. The factors affecting the distribution were species and morphology of the Fucus plants, and snail age. Colour frequencies were the same for adults and juveniles in both spring and autumn. The proportion of yellow snails was higher and the proportion of brown snails was lower in autumn than in spring on F. serratus. Yellow snails, in autumn and regardless of age, sat mainly on F. serratus with little stem and F. uesiculosus with much stem. Brown adults were found mainly on F. serratus with much stem and juveniles were found more frequently than expected on F. vesiculosus with little stem. Overall, juveniles were found higher up on the shore than adults. In spring there were relatively more yellow snails on F. serratus in shores sheltered from wave action compared to more exposed ones. In autumn the trend was the same on F. serratus, but the opposite on F. vesiculosus, with relatively more yellow snails in exposed shores. The relation between algal morphology, colour morph frequencies and wave exposure is discussed.
Published Version
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