Movement patterns of the gastropod Lepsiella vinosa on the West Head rocky shore in Victoria

This study investigated the movement of Lepsiella vinosa on the West Head rocky shore during October 1976 and May 1977. Forty-eight individuals were marked in the October observation period and 100 individuals were marked during the May period. The movements of individuals were followed over 4 intervals that corresponded to conditions of high tide/daylight, low tide/night, high tide/night, low tide/daylight. A Perspex quadrat marked in a grid pattern in 1 cm or 2 cm intervals was placed over the study area and used to record the position of each individual.

Mean rate of movement in May 1977 (2.70 ± 0.59 cm/h) was greater than during October 1976 (1.11 ± 0.22 cm/h). At low tide, the rate of movement correlated with air temperatures, with lower movement rates at higher temperatures. At high tide, there was no variation in movement.