Population dynamics of the intertidal mytilid Brachidontes rodriguezii (Bivalvia) on a rocky shore

Population dynamics of the intertidal mytilid Brachidontes rodriguezii (Bivalvia) on a rocky shore. The mytilid Brachidontes rodriguezii is the key species that structures the intertidal benthic community of rocky shores from Buenos Aires Province. The aim of this work was to Study the temporal-spatial dynamics of the population of B. rodriguezii from two localities (Quequen and Necochea) by analysing the variations of production and recruits density in vertical and horizontal slopes of the substrate throughout the year. The statistical analyses indicated that both the temporal and spatial variations of B. rodriguezii production were significant. In Necochea the production was higher in summer than in the other seasons, whereas in Quequen maximum production values were in winter. The population always showed a high percentage of recruits throughout a year, with a maximum of 58% recruits in Necochea during the summer. The differences found showed significantly spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the Population patterns of B. rodriguezii.