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Geographical variation in heat coma temperatures in Littorina species (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 October 2000

A.P. Clarke
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
P.J. Mill
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
J. Grahame
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
R.F. McMahon
Affiliation:
Section of Comparative Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA

Abstract

Upper critical thermal limits were measured as heat coma temperatures in Littorina species (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from sites around the British Isles. Thermal tolerance was found to be stable within a population but extensive variation occurred between populations and species. The majority of species examined displayed heat coma values of around 30°C and did not show a positive correlation with shore height. The highest capacity for thermal tolerance was found along the coast of South Wales, while the lowest was found on the south-west coast of Ireland and on the east coast of Scotland.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2000 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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