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Updated global distribution of the threatened
marine limpet Patella ferruginea (Gastropoda:

Patellidae): an example of biodiversity loss
in the Mediterranean

F REE E SP INO S A ,G EO RGI N A A. R IVE R A -I NGRAHAM ,M ANUEL M AESTRE
A LEX A ND RE R. G ON ZÁLE Z ,H OCE I N B AZAIRI and J OSÉ C. G ARCÍA -G ÓME Z

Abstract Patella ferruginea is the most threatened macro- Introduction
invertebrate in the western Mediterranean, where it is at
he Mediterranean Sea, home to many threatened
serious risk of extinction. There is little information on the
Tand endemic species, has suffered a general decrease
status of the various populations and most data were
in biodiversity, with temporal trends indicating that over-
published more than 25 years ago. This study provides
exploitation and habitat loss have been the main drivers
updated information on the global status of this species, and
of this change and that these influences are expected to
implications for management and conservation, and tests
increase (Coll et al., 2010). Overexploitation on rocky shores
the hypothesis that population structure can be influenced
involves people collecting animals and plants for food or
by collection by people and by the type of substrate. Fifty-
bait (Keough et al., 1993); on the accessible intertidal areas
five localities were surveyed in Corsica, Sardinia, Tuscany
there are many target species, such as limpets, that are
and Sicily, on the islands of Egadi and Pantelleria, and on
extensively collected (Lindberg et al., 1998). An example
the Zembra archipelago and Tunisian coasts. The species is
is Patella ferruginea, the most threatened marine macro-
extinct on mainland Italy and Sicily but isolated individuals
invertebrate in the western Mediterranean (Ramos, 1998),
can be found on Egadi and Pantelleria. Populations on
which is included in several directives at European and
Corsica and Sardinia have declined dramatically during the
country levels (MMAMRM, 2008). This species has been
last 25 years. The population in the Zembra archipelago is
collected since the Pleistocene (Espinosa et al., 2009a).
well preserved, although more widely on Tunisian coasts the
Exploitation can decrease the reproductive output of
species is highly threatened. The information provided here,
intertidal invertebrate populations because individual
combined with information from the literature, indicates
fecundity of many species increases with body size (Levitan,
a strong decline and/or extinction of many populations
1991; Tegner et al., 1996).
throughout the western Mediterranean and the presence
According to MMAMRM (2008) P. ferruginea occurs in
of healthy populations only in some locations along the
North Africa (e.g. Ceuta, Melilla); the Chafarinas Islands
north African coast. The species exhibits an increase in
(Spain); Al Hoceima Natural Park, Morocco; the Rachgoun
density and mean size in areas free of human pressure but
and Habibas Islands (Algeria); the Cap Bon Peninsula
the type of substrate (natural or artificial) has no strong
and Zembra Island (Tunisia); and the southern Iberian
influence.
Mediterranean coast, Corsica and Sardinia. However, there
Keywords Artificial substrate, conservation, distribution, is little known about the status of these populations and
limpets, Mediterranean, molluscs, Patella ferruginea most of the available information dates from .25 years ago.
The only research addressing the global distribution of
This paper contains supplementary material that can be
P. ferruginea was that of Laborel-Deguen & Laborel (1991a),
found online at http://journals.cambridge.org
although much of the data provided by them were from
palaeological sources rather than direct census. It has been
suggested that the increase in artificial structures in the
Mediterranean could lead to a general loss of genetic
biodiversity, populations and species (Fauvelot et al., 2009;
FREE ESPINOSA (Corresponding author), MANUEL MAESTRE,ALEXANDRE
R. GONZÁLEZ and JOSÉ C. GARCÍA-GÓMEZ Laboratorio de Biología Marina, Bulleri & Chapman, 2010). Nevertheless, several species,
Universidad de Sevilla. Avda. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012 Sevilla, Spain. E-mail including P. ferruginea, have settled on artificial substrates,
free@us.es
where dense populations can be found (García-Gómez et al.,
GEORGINA A. RIVERA-INGRAHAM Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine
Research, Bremerhaven, Germany 2011). However, there is a lack of information about how the
type of substrate influences the population dynamics of this
HOCEIN BAZAIRI Laboratoire de Zoologie et Biologie Générale, Faculté des
Sciences, Université Mohammed V-Agdal, Rabat, Morocco species. The aim of this research was to provide updated
information for the entire western Mediterranean, to
Received 19 January 2012. Revision requested 2 March 2012.
Accepted 3 April 2012. First published online 20 September 2013. evaluate the current status of this species. Additionally,
© 2013 Fauna & Flora International, Oryx, 48(2), 266–275 doi:10.1017/S0030605312000580
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