Aspects of the biology and behavior of the chiton Tonicella Marmorea (Fabricius, 1780) (Polyplacophora, Mollusca)

Mercer-Clarke, Colleen Sara Lynn (1975) Aspects of the biology and behavior of the chiton Tonicella Marmorea (Fabricius, 1780) (Polyplacophora, Mollusca). Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The biology and behavior of the chiton, Tonicella marmorea (Fabricius) was studied, under both field and laboratory conditions. T. marmorea is nocturnal and found only sublittorally in Newfoundland waters. Studies showed that it moved as much as 200 centimetres in one feeding period and a mean distance of 35 to 40 centimetres each night. Daily observations of activity of a population, made during two experimental periods of approximately one month each, failed to demonstrate any seasonal pattern in the activity of the organism. No significant correlation was found between the duration of the dark photoperiod, or water temperature and actvity. Activity over a twenty-four hour period took place only during the dark hours. Individual specimens became active just before sunset and continued to move for 5 or 6 hours. Some specimens exhibited a second peak of activity, midway through the night, and a third, just before sunrise. Tonicella marmorea possesses the ability to "home" to a particular resting site, but was not observed to home regularly to the same site.

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