Ecological and population characteristics of the seashell Conus princeps on the Pacific coast of central Mexico
Marine snails of the genus Conus have acquired remarkable biomedical importance because of the high number of toxins they produce for feeding and self-defense. One of these toxins gave way to a new medication and two other are under development for clinical and cosmetic purposes. Nevertheless, ther...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Ciencias Marinas |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cienciasmarinas.com.mx/index.php/cmarinas/article/view/2925 |
| _version_ | 1797279558289850368 |
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| author | Jesus Emilio Michel-Morfín Gilberto A Medina-Vargas Víctor Landa-Jaime Judith Arciniega-Flores Manuel B Aguilar Edgar P Heimer de la Cotera |
| author_facet | Jesus Emilio Michel-Morfín Gilberto A Medina-Vargas Víctor Landa-Jaime Judith Arciniega-Flores Manuel B Aguilar Edgar P Heimer de la Cotera |
| author_sort | Jesus Emilio Michel-Morfín |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Marine snails of the genus Conus have acquired remarkable biomedical importance because of the high number of toxins they produce for feeding and self-defense. One of these toxins gave way to a new medication and two other are under development for clinical and cosmetic purposes. Nevertheless, there is little basic knowledge about this group of species, particularly in Mexico. This study aimed to determine the relative abundance, spatial distribution, bathymetric distribution, and habitat preference of the snail Conus princeps along the southern coast of Jalisco (Mexico). To achieve this goal, we conducted direct samplings by snorkeling or scuba diving at 13 beaches, covering the intertidal, shallow subtidal, and deep subtidal zones. Relative density was between 0.021 and 0.418 snails per 100 m2, with an average value of 0.152 snails per 100 m2. The population showed an aggregated spatial distribution pattern according to the nearest neighbor index. Snails had shells that measured between 23.1 mm and 52.2 mm long, with an average shell size of 39.7 mm. Conus princeps was mainly distributed in the intertidal and shallow subtidal zones. The smaller organisms were present at shallower depths, while the larger organisms were distributed throughout the sampled depth habitats. In general, snail abundance decreased as depth increased. From the underwater photography analysis, we determined that Conus princeps snails prefer rocky bottom habitats covered with brown seaweed.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T16:26:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8935e058b46644048d3b123d0d00cd1d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0185-3880 2395-9053 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T16:26:41Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | Universidad Autónoma de Baja California |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ciencias Marinas |
| spelling | doaj.art-8935e058b46644048d3b123d0d00cd1d2024-03-03T17:34:53ZengUniversidad Autónoma de Baja CaliforniaCiencias Marinas0185-38802395-90532019-06-0145210.7773/cm.v45i2.2925Ecological and population characteristics of the seashell Conus princeps on the Pacific coast of central MexicoJesus Emilio Michel-Morfín0Gilberto A Medina-Vargas1Víctor Landa-Jaime2Judith Arciniega-Flores3Manuel B Aguilar4Edgar P Heimer de la Cotera5Universidad de GuadalajaraUniversidad de GuadalajaraUniversidad de GuadalajaraUniversidad de GuadalajaraUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México Marine snails of the genus Conus have acquired remarkable biomedical importance because of the high number of toxins they produce for feeding and self-defense. One of these toxins gave way to a new medication and two other are under development for clinical and cosmetic purposes. Nevertheless, there is little basic knowledge about this group of species, particularly in Mexico. This study aimed to determine the relative abundance, spatial distribution, bathymetric distribution, and habitat preference of the snail Conus princeps along the southern coast of Jalisco (Mexico). To achieve this goal, we conducted direct samplings by snorkeling or scuba diving at 13 beaches, covering the intertidal, shallow subtidal, and deep subtidal zones. Relative density was between 0.021 and 0.418 snails per 100 m2, with an average value of 0.152 snails per 100 m2. The population showed an aggregated spatial distribution pattern according to the nearest neighbor index. Snails had shells that measured between 23.1 mm and 52.2 mm long, with an average shell size of 39.7 mm. Conus princeps was mainly distributed in the intertidal and shallow subtidal zones. The smaller organisms were present at shallower depths, while the larger organisms were distributed throughout the sampled depth habitats. In general, snail abundance decreased as depth increased. From the underwater photography analysis, we determined that Conus princeps snails prefer rocky bottom habitats covered with brown seaweed. https://www.cienciasmarinas.com.mx/index.php/cmarinas/article/view/2925molluskcone snailsecologyConus princepsPacific Ocean |
| spellingShingle | Jesus Emilio Michel-Morfín Gilberto A Medina-Vargas Víctor Landa-Jaime Judith Arciniega-Flores Manuel B Aguilar Edgar P Heimer de la Cotera Ecological and population characteristics of the seashell Conus princeps on the Pacific coast of central Mexico Ciencias Marinas mollusk cone snails ecology Conus princeps Pacific Ocean |
| title | Ecological and population characteristics of the seashell Conus princeps on the Pacific coast of central Mexico |
| title_full | Ecological and population characteristics of the seashell Conus princeps on the Pacific coast of central Mexico |
| title_fullStr | Ecological and population characteristics of the seashell Conus princeps on the Pacific coast of central Mexico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecological and population characteristics of the seashell Conus princeps on the Pacific coast of central Mexico |
| title_short | Ecological and population characteristics of the seashell Conus princeps on the Pacific coast of central Mexico |
| title_sort | ecological and population characteristics of the seashell conus princeps on the pacific coast of central mexico |
| topic | mollusk cone snails ecology Conus princeps Pacific Ocean |
| url | https://www.cienciasmarinas.com.mx/index.php/cmarinas/article/view/2925 |
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