Page 40 - IPCoSME 2021

1 INTERNATIONAL POSTGRADUATE CONFERENCE ON SCIENCE AND MARINE ENVIRONMENT 2021
st
(IPCoSME 2021)
“Environmental Sustainability Enhancement Through the Collaboration of Sciences”

RD-08

INFLUENCE OF RECRUITMENT, SUBMERGENCE, SALINITY AND
TEMPERATURE ON THE ABUNDANCE OF ACORN BARNACLES IN ROCK

POOLS, SOUTHERN THAILAND

NUTCHA BUASAKAEW AND KRINGPAKA WANGKULANGKUL 1
1*

1 Division of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand

*Corresponding author email: 6210220043@psu.ac.th

Abstract: Rock pool is a common feature on intertidal rocky shores. There are usually utilized

as a refuge for marine organisms. However, water parameters in rock pools can fluctuate

drastically in a tidal cycle, which can affect organisms physiologically. From observations,
acorn barnacles (Cirripedia: Balanomorpha) were relatively rare in rock pools compared to

emergent rock. This study aims to compare the abundance of barnacles in rock pools and on
emergent rocks and investigate recruitment and post-recruitment processes that might influence

their distribution pattern. Submersion experiment was conducted. The survival of barnacles in
a simulated pool condition (continuous submergence) was compared to the conditions they

experience on emergent rock (periodical submergence). Barnacles were also reared at different

salinities and temperatures to examine effect of both parameters on their survival if they live
in pools. Study was done on two species of barnacles Chthamalus malayensis Pilsbry, 1916

and Amphibalanus amphitrite (Darwin, 1854). Results showed that abundance of C. malayensis
differed between two habitats while difference was not found for A. amphitrite. Barnacles

recruited on emergent rocks more than rock pools. In submersion experiment, survival of C.
malayensis differed between treatments. After two weeks, there was no mortality found in

periodical submergence treatment while percentage survival in continuous submergence

treatment was lower than 90. Whereas percentage survival of A. amphitrite was not different
between treatments. In salinity × temperature experiment, survival of C. malayensis and A.

amphitrite were low in low salinity and high temperature treatment. This study suggests that

C. malayensis and A. amphitrite may recruit into rock pools, but the combination of continuous
submergence, low salinity and high water temperature in rock pools can be causes of barnacles

mortality.

Keywords: rock pools, tide pools, intertidal, submergence, acorn barnacles

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