(full paper is archived in the Miller Library)
Title: Abundances and distribution of turban snails in central
California kelp forests
Student Author(s): Miller, Mary Katherine
Faculty Advisor(s): Pearse, John
Pages: 24
Location: Senior Thesis UC Santa Cruz
Date: July 1981
Keywords: Hopkins Marine Life Refuge, HMLR, Point Cabrillo,
Lovers Point, Lovers of Jesus Christ Point, Pacific Grove
Abstract: Kelp beds in central California have long fascinated
SCUBA divers and scientists for their beauty and diversity. The high
productivity and diversity of giant kelp communities
(Macrocystis) are well documented (Andrews, 1945; North, 1971;
Mann, 1973). Within these communities many habitats have been
identified and described. One such habitat which has been examined
is Macrocystis itself. The stipes and blades of this alga
are host to large numbers of microinvertebrates as well as larger
motile organisms (Wing and Clendenning, 1971). In Monterey Bay these
motile inverebrates include members of the gastropod genus
Tegula, belonging to the family Trochidae in the order
Archaeogastropoda. This large order includes such diverse snails as
the limpet, keyhole limpet and abalone which have been characterized
(Graham, 1955) as herbivores feeding, with the aid of a radula, on
algae, diatoms and algal detritus (Morton, 1967). There are three
species of Tegula which occur commonly in the kelp beds of central
California, T. pulligo, T. brunnea and T. montereyii.
The distribution of these snails within kelp beds have been
investigated previously (Lowry et al., 1974; Hunt, 1977; Riedman et
al., 1981). As juveniles they are common on the benthos but as
adults they occur primarily on Macrocystis and other algae.
It has been previously reported that they occupy distinctive zones
which are species specific as to depth and vertical height on the
kelp. The purpose of this study is to compare abundances of turban
snails at three locations in Monterey Bay and re-examine their
distribution patterns on Macrocystis pyrifera.