Research Article
Abraham Seumel Khouw
Abstract
Study on ecological energetics of tropical limpet C. testudinaria has been carried out at approximately one year from October 2001 to September 2002. Population energy budgets estimated on the assumption of steady state conditions for C. testudinaria (Linnaeus, 1758) on the rocky shore of Ohoiwait, are presented. Large difference in population structure, and hence energetics, occurred at different localities along the rocky shore. Relatively high proportions (98 %) of the assimilated energy was lost via metabolism. Assimilation efficiency is 39 %, net growth efficiency is 1.8 %, and ecological efficiency 0.3 %. Production (P), energy flow (A) and total energy consumption (C) were expressed as functions of animal size, in order to facilitate gross estimations of the energy component for which data on size frequency and density are available.