Information about Aeolidia papillosa

October 30, 2002
From: Moria Eggers

Hi,
I am a student at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. I am doing a literature based project for my marine biology class and I have chosen to look at Aeolidia papillosa. I was curious to know population numbers and predators of this species in the Puget Sound area. My question is what is limiting the population sizes of the nudibranch Aeolidia papillosa?
Thanks
Moria Eggers

meggers@ups.edu

Eggers, M., 2002 (Oct 30) Information about Aeolidia papillosa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8316

Dear Moira,
If you look at the Fact Sheet on this species you will find a link to a page of relevant references on aspects of its natural history and ecology.

One problem with questions such as 'what is limiting the population size' is that they make assumptions so you can discuss ecological theory which is based on an 'ideal world'. The first question you need to ask is whether the population size of Aeolidia papillosa is being limited at all, and if so is it just being limited in one place or at one point in time. Which brings up the question about how you define a 'population' in a marine animal which may lead its adult life in one place bbut has arisen from larvae which have come from somewhere else. All very difficult. When you have marine animals, with planktonic larval stages, the size of the benthic population at one place is often dependent on the reproductive success of a benthic population at some other place, and the ability of the resulting larvae to survive in the plankton and finally settle. So the nice feedback mechanisms built into ecological theory which relate population size to fecundity and health of the breeding population break down, because even the most healthy and satiated population can crash if there is no larval settlement.
Good luck with your report,
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Oct 30). Comment on Information about Aeolidia papillosa by Moria Eggers. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8316

Factsheet

Aeolidia papillosa

Related messages

  1. Aeolidia papillosa from French Atlantic
    From: Marina Poddubetskaia Ossokine, August 17, 2009
  2. Re: Aeolidia papillosa spawn
    From: Jackie Hildering, August 1, 2008
  3. Re: Aeolidia papillosa spawn
    From: Jackie Hildering, August 1, 2008
  4. Stars don't eat slugs
    From: Jan Kocian, July 11, 2007
  5. Aeolidia papillosa from British Columbia
    From: Marli Wakeling, March 26, 2007
  6. Aeolidia papillosa? from southern Oregon
    From: Sandy Grummon, March 1, 2007
  7. Large Aeolidia papillosa from Puget Sound
    From: Richard Zade, February 8, 2007
  8. Juvenile Aeolidia papillosa?
    From: Carmelita Hansen, May 11, 2006
  9. Aeolidia papillosa - Mating and Feeding
    From: Philipp Kauffmann, May 24, 2005
  10. Aeolidia papillosa from Puget Sound, Washington
    From: Tom Hankins, February 22, 2005
  11. Aeolidia papillosa vs Flabellina salmonacea
    From: Mary Jo Adams, January 29, 2004
  12. Aeolidia papillosa - mating
    From: Richard Lord, August 29, 2003
  13. Aeolidia papillosa feeding
    From: Alan Shepard, August 23, 2003
  14. Re: Information about Aeolidia papillosa
    From: Peter H. van Bragt, November 4, 2002
  15. Aeolidia papillosa feeding
    From: Andy Horton, September 30, 1999
  16. Aeolidia papillosa spawn
    From: Andy Horton, September 29, 1999
  17. Albino Aeolidia papillosa
    From: Irina Roginskaya, September 18, 1999
  18. Aeolidia papillosa from the White Sea
    From: Irina Roginskaya, September 8, 1999
  19. Colour variation in Aeolidia papillosa
    From: Betsey Hansen, September 5, 1999
  20. Aeolidia papillosa - Feeding & breeding
    From: Betsey Hansen, September 3, 1999
  21. Aeolidia papillosa from the Netherlands
    From: Peter H. van Bragt, September 2, 1999
  22. Aeolidia papillosa from New York
    From: Betsey Hansen, September 2, 1999

Show factsheet and all related messages