Growth rate of the gastropod Littorina littorea L. in the Kandalakshsky gulf of the White Sea

The study of the growth of mollusks, especially buccinid gastropod is a prospective research direction in biology, which helps to understand the processes in shallow-water ecosystems. The growth rate characterizes the state of the population, and the conditions of its habitat. Littorina littorea L. is an important component of the intertidal community. Some sea birds such as Somateria mollissima and Haematopus ostralegus use these mollusks as food. However, there are a little information about biology and ecology of Littorina littorea. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of the Littorina littorea population by examining the growth rate of individuals in the sample. To conduct the study of Littorina littorea, 199 individuals were collected: 61 - in the Porya bay and 138 - in the island of Ryashkov. The data were processed using the method of regression analysis. The regression lines describing dependence of the height of the sheells in each clam on their age were plotted and compared for two studied habitats of Littorina littorea. The results showed no significant difference between the two studied samples regarding the mollusks shell height. The obtained data substantially complement the information on biology and ecology of Littorina littorea in particular habitats.