ECOLOGICAL ENERGETICS OF TROPICAL LIMPET Cellana testudinaria (Linnaeus, 1758) LIVING ON THE ROCKY SHORE OF OHOIWAIT, SOUTHEAST MOLUCCAS, INDONESIA

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.