Distribution ranges of the acorn barnacle Perforatus (=Balanus) perforatus (Bruguière, 1789) in the NE Atlantic are influenced by reproductive parameters

The acorn barnacle Perforatus perforatus has a defined breeding temperature range and reproductive season that varies geographically. This study aims to investigate the influence of reproductive parameters of P. perforatus in species distribution ranges in the NE Atlantic. The hypothesis tested is that the breeding season of P. perforatus off NW Portugal begins earlier and is longer than at the northern distribution limit of this species, and that fecundity is higher in terms of number of broods per individual per breeding season. The span of the breeding season and fecundity indices were assessed based on the presence and maturation of ovigerous lamellae and correlated with temperature. Results showed that the breeding season in the NW Portuguese coast lasts over 10 months (February–November) and the number of broods was determined to be 9.2 ind/year. Temperature seems to be a primary factor determining the breeding season, but other factors, such as food availably, light and photoperiod, are also of great importance. However, the higher quantity of embryos produced in NW Portugal is not reflected in a higher abundance of settled adults in rocky shores. Contrarily, the species is particularly abundant in artificial substrata offshore. © 2017, Springer International Publishing AG.

This research was partially supported by the Structured Program of R&D&I INNOVMAR – Innovation and Sustainability in the Management and Exploitation of Marine Resources (reference NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000035, Research Line NOVELMAR), which is funded by the Northern Regional Operational Programme (NORTE2020) through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as well as by the Strategic Funding UID/Multi/04423/2013 through national funds provided by FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), in the framework of the programme PT2020, and also by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through two postdoctoral scholarships to IC (SFRH/BPD/110020/2015) and JRA (SFRH/BPD/87416/2012). We acknowledge the Instituto Hidrográfico of the Portuguese Navy for providing the seawater temperature data.