THE GIANT LIMPET

Person in charge

Jean-José Filippi

Objectives

Development of a breeding protocol for Patella ferruginea in the laboratory

Description

The giant limpet is a marine mollusc that can reach 11 cm in diameter. Its habitat is in the area impacted by the waves. It is a protected species for which fishing is prohibited. It was once widespread throughout the western Mediterranean. It disappeared from the French continental coast. Today, it is only present in Corsica, Sardinia, Tunisia, Spain and Algeria. Almost everywhere its population is small. The giant limpet feeds by crawling on rocks and ingesting various static organisms, including cyanobacteria, brown algae (Ralfsia verrucosa) and red algae (Rissoella sp.) The limpets are hermaphrodites protandres. Fertilisation is external. The male and female gametes are released into the water where they fuse randomly. The eggs thus formed give birth to planktonic veliger larvae which, after metamorphosis, attach to the rocks.

Steps to be taken

Development of breeding strategy for the Giant Limpet Patella ferruginea Gmellin 1791. This work is an essential prerequisite for the implementation of a possible ecological restoration tool to that at a scale of distribution of this species (the Mediterranean). Spawning pens: the tanks will be equipped with a wave device. The following steps will be taken:

• Release of eggs
• Fertilisation
• Egg counting
• Incubation
• Larval development to metamorphosis
• Larval and juvenile nutrition:

we will search for a natural food available in Corsica to feed the limpets to respond to the qualitative and quantitative needs of juveniles and adult species. We will try to capture fouling in lagoons and at sea on artificial structures. The objective is to define a feeding programme for juvenile and adult larvae from local resources.