Connectivity of intertidal gastropod populations in a system of marine protected areas

The abundance and size of individuals of 10 gastropod species were measured in rocky intertidal reefs in 10 Marine Protected Areas (Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries) in Victoria, Australia. Similar surveys were conducted at 8 comparable sites outside these parks. The study species consist of broadcast spawners (Cellana tramoserica, Turbo undulatus, Austrocochlea constricta, Patelloida alticostata) and egg laying species (Nerita atramentosa, Bembicium nanum, Cominella lineolata, Dicathais orbita, Lepsiella vinosa, Siphonaria diemenensis) with different larval dispersal potentials.