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The ecological role of defensive secretions in the intertidal pulmonate Onchidella borealis

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Date Issued:
1986
Title: The ecological role of defensive secretions in the intertidal pulmonate Onchidella borealis.
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Name(s): Young, Craig M., creator
Greenwood, Paul G, creator
Powell, Cynthia J., creator
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Article
Issuance: single unit
Date Issued: 1986
Publisher: The Marine Biological Laboratory
Extent: 15 p.
Physical Description: pdf
Language(s): English
Identifier: 3171586 (digitool), FADT3171586 (IID), fau:5636 (fedora)
Note(s): Repugnatorial glands located in the marginal papillae of the intertidal ochidiid pulmonate Onchidella borealis secrete a viscous fluid in response to mechanical or chemical stimulation. In laboratory encounters, this fluid repels intertidal predatory asteroids, particularly Leptasterias hexactis, but not predatory gastropods, polyclad turbellarians, nemerteans, or fishes. Intertidal crabs consume dead 0. borealis readily, but seldom consume living individuals capable of firing their glands. The vertical range of 0. borealis overlaps that of L. hexactis, whereas limpets that are vulnerable to predation by the sea stars generally live higher on the shore.
This manuscript is available at http://www.biolbull.org/ and may be cited as: Young, C. M., Greenwood, P. G. & Powell, C. J. (1986). The ecological role of defensive secretions in the intertidal pulmonate Onchidella borealis. The Biological Bulletin, 171(2), 391-404.
Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution #533.
Subject(s): Glands, Odoriferous
Intertidal animals
Crabs
Limpets
Starfishes
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3171586
Restrictions on Access: ©1986 The Marine Biological Laboratory
Host Institution: FAU