Host effect on size structure and timing of sex change in the coral-inhabiting snail Coralliophila violacea

Abstract

The distribution, size and reproductive characteristics of the snail Coralliophila violacea (Lamarck), which inhabits the surface of both the branching coral Porites nigrescens and the massive corals P. lobata and P. lutea, were surveyed to examine the host effect on: (1) population structure and (2) reproductive characteristics, including the size at sex change of symbionts. On branching hosts, most snails were solitary, whereas on massive hosts, most had formed multiple-snail patches. Significantly smaller snails as well as proportionally more females were found on branching than on massive hosts. Furthermore, the fecundity of the females on the branching hosts was significantly lower than that on the massive hosts. The size at sex change (male to female) of the snails was smaller on the branching hosts than on massive hosts. Patch composition differences can partly explain the smaller size at sex change for snails on branching hosts; however, there was also evidence that host morphology had a significant effect on the timing of sex change.