RECRUITMENT OF CONCHOLEPAS CONCHOLEPAS ((BRUGU1ERE, 1789) (GASTROPODA, MURICIDAE) IN THE COAST OF VALDIVIA: ADULTS AND HABITAT TYPE INFLUENCE

Abstract

During 1984 and 1985 the characteristics of the recruitment of Concholepas concholepas (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Muricidae) at the rocky intertidal, wasstudied in Mehuin, coast of Valdivia (39°24'S, 73*T3'W). Relationships between density of the adult population and juvenile specimens, equal or smaller than 25 mm of peristomal length, and of these last “recruits" with the type of substratum with which they are associated, were established. It was found that there is no relation between density of adults and the presence of recruits, and that, the type of substratum used most frequently by juveniles is that with crevices and covered by barnacles at non exposed fronts. It was also detected, that there is no Information on the settlement process, that occur at sizes less than 2 mm. Majority of the studies, even the present one, considers recruits an individual with a peristomal length between 15 and 25 mm.