The null hypothesis of this study is that there

How physical factors influence the relative

will be abundance
no horizontal of two
zonation or segregation
barnacle species on the Schoenmakerskop rocky shore
Marishka Govender 219466955

Abstract Octomeris angulosa and Tetraclita serrata are two of the most commonly occurring
barnacles on the coastlines of South Africa. They occur in the same intertidal zone, but within that
zone show extremely different horizontal zonations. High abundances of Octomeris angulosa occur
at the seaward end of the zone and high abundances of Tetraclita serrata occur at the landward
end of the zone, these abundances being relative to each other. Upon the observation of the
environmental conditions prevailing at each zone (wave force, sun exposure), samples were taken
to deduce whether or not there was a connection between the species adaption to the
environmental conditions and their relative abundances. It was concluded that there was a
connection between high relative abundance of each species and their adaption to the environment
in which they occurred in these high numbers.

INTRODUCTION
Octomeris angulosa, also known as the
Eightshell barnacle, and Tetraclita serrata are
two of the most commonly occurring barnacles
on the coastlines of South Africa (Boland
1997).
Upon close observation of the lower balanoid
zone on the rocky shore intertidal zone at
Schoenmakerskop, it appeared that two
species, Octomeris angulosa and Tetraclita
serrata, occurred in the same intertidal zone
but were separated by horizontal zonation,
within the lower balanoid zone. This observed
horizontal zonation appeared to be on the
basis of wave exposure (Field 1963). Upon
further observation it was found that Octomeris
angulosa displayed far greater abundance on
the gently sloping rocks at the seaward end of
the lower balanoid zone whilst Tetraclita
serrata displayed a high abundance at the
landward end. This study aims to find what
exactly this horizontal zonation of species
abundance is caused by and whether the
physical factors of sun exposure, wave action
and shore elevation contribute to this zonation
(not only the aspect of wave exposure).
Furthermore, the adaptions of each species to
variations of these physical factors will be
deduced.
between the two species on the basis of
different species tolerance to variations of sun
expose, wave action and shore elevation.
The alternative hypothesis is that the reasons
for high abundance of Octomeris angulosa at
the seaward end is attributed to the fact that
this species can handle specific physical
conditions present at the seaward end. These
conditions being high wave forces and lower
temperatures (Boland 1997). The low
temperatures of the seaward end are
attributed to it being continually covered by
water and not being exposed to air for long
periods. The alternative hypothesis also states
that the high Tetraclita serrata at the landward
end can be attributed to it being better adapted
to the conditions there, those being weaker
wave forces and higher temperatures (Boland
1997). The high temperatures can be
attributed to the increased time of the rocks
being exposed to air as they do not get
covered by water as often.
It can also be hypothesised that the
morphological differences in these barnacle’s
attribute to where it is found within the lower
balanoid zone. This study aims to prove that
abundance is tightly linked to adaption and
that the highest abundance will occur in an
environment where the species is best
adapted to physical conditions that prevail.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Study site
Schoenmakerskop is a coastal rocky shore
area on the Port Elizabeth coastline. Sampling
took place at two sampling locations, sampling
location 1 (34°02’29.84’’S, 25°32’09.66’’E)
and sampling location 2 (34°02’29.92’’S,
25°32’24.05’’E) (Figure 1).
Sampling strategies

Sampling took place on the 29th of September

2019 at 9am, the time of low tide during the
neap tide. There was partial cloud cover and a
moderate temperature of approximately 20°C.
On the rocky shore intertidal zone of
Schoenmakerskop, sampling took place in the
lower balanoid zone. The sample procedure
was used in both sampling location 1 and
sampling location 2. Within the lower balanoid
zone, sampling took place on the landwards
end (closest to land) and the seaward end
(closest to the sea). At the landward and
seaward end of both sampling locations, a
0.5x0.5m quadrat was used to get three
separate samples along a 2.5m line transect
(Figure 2). In each quadrat, the number of
individuals of Octomeris angulosa and
Tetraclita serrata were observed and
recorded. From these numbers recorded, the
relative abundance of one species in
comparison to the other was deduced.
Statistical analysis
The means of the number of individuals of
each species obtained from three quadrats
along the line transect at the landward and
seaward end at both sampling locations were
calculated (Table 1 and 2). A t test was carried
out (assuming equal variances) between
these means of both species in sampling
location 1 and 2, for the landward end and
seaward end in order to obtain a P value. A P
value less or equal to 0.05 means that the null
hypothesis should be rejected and a P value
greater than 0.05 means that we cannot reject
the null hypothesis.
Figure 1: Google Earth image of Schoenmakerskop rocky shore, showing sampling location 1 and 2.

Figure 2: Schematic diagram showing line transects, quadrats and landward and seaward ends of
the lower balanoid zone.
RESULTS
60
The table below (1) shows the mean number

Number of individuals
50
of individuals of each species at the landward
end of the lower balanoid zone at each 40
sampling location. A t test was carried out 30
using these means (comparing the two
species) (df =2; t-stat = -4.173, P (two tail) = 20

0.052) 10

Table 1: Mean number of individuals of each 0

Sample location 1 Sample location 2
species on the landward end of the lower
balanoid zone in sample location 1 and 2. Sample location (landwards direction)
Octomeris angulosa Tetraclita serrata
Sample Sample
Location 1 Location 2
Figure 3: Number of individuals of each
Octomeris angulosa 11 5
species at the landward end of both sampling
Tetraclita serrata 42 30 locations
Figure 4 below shows the number of
individuals of each species at the seaward end
The table below (2) shows the mean number of sample location 1 and 2. Tetraclita serrata
of individuals of each species at the seaward is evidently lower in abundance than
end of the lower balanoid zone at each Octomeris angulosa at the seaward end of
sampling location. A t test was carried out both sampling locations.
using these means (comparing the two
species) (df =2; t-stat = 5.241, P (two tail) = 100
Number of individuals

0.034) 80

Table 2: Mean number of individuals of each 60

species on the seaward end of the lower 40
balanoid zone in sample location 1 and 2. 20
Sample Sample 0
Location 1 Location 2 Sample location 1 Sample location 2
Octomeris angulosa 75 52 Sample location(seawards direction)

Tetraclita serrata 4 2
Octomeris angulosa Tetraclita serrata

Figure 4: Number of individuals of each

Figure 3 below shows the number of species at the seaward end of both sampling
individuals of each species at the landward locations
end of sample location 1 and 2. Octomeris
angulosa is evidently lower in abundance than
Tetraclita serrata at the landward end of both
sampling locations.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The physical/environmental factors that
prevail in these areas in the lower balanoid
The physical conditions or environmental
zone determine how abundant Octomeris
factors that prevailed on the seaward end were
angulosa is in comparison to Tetraclita serrata
such that wave forces were evidently greater
and vice versa. It is also the morphology of
than those at the landward end. Temperatures
these two barnacle species that determine in
close to the rocks where the barnacles
which environment or area they will be most
occurred were lower because of the
abundant and which environmental conditions
continuous wave action on the rocks and
they can withstand.
decreased air and sun exposure. At the
landward end, of course further away from the
shoreline, wave force and action are much
REFERENCES
less, and temperatures are higher for the
reason that the rocks are exposed to air and Field, J. G. (1963). Some experiments on the
sun for longer periods (Boland 1997). rate of feeding in shore barnacles and on the
conditions under which the different species
The null hypothesis can be rejected. P values feed. B.Sc. Hons. Project, University of Cape
for both landward and seaward areas in both Town, pp. 27
sampling locations were less than 0.05.
Although the P value for analysis of the two Boland, J.M. (1997). The horizontal zonation
species at the landward end was 0.05, there of two species of intertidal barnacle in South
were clear differences in the number of Africa. South African Journal of Marine
species that occurred at the landward end, Science, 18(1), pp.49–61.
Tetraclita serrata showing far greater
abundance. Google.com. (2000). Google Earth. [online]
Studies have shown that Octomeris angulosa Available at: https://earth.google.com/web/.
are better adapted to the physical environment
at the seaward end and this can be verified by
their high abundance at the seaward end in
comparison to Tetraclita serrata. According to
Boland, because Octomeris is short, high
abundances often form a strong compact
“matrix” that is able to take the force of high
wave actions. It is precisely because of this
short and compact form they take on that they
cannot withstand prolonged sun exposure and
overheat extremely fast. This provides
reasoning as to why Octomeris occur in such
high abundances at the seaward end.

Boland again gave reasons as to why

Tetraclita serrata occur in the pattern observed
during this study. He noted that the tall
(implying unstable) structure was the reason
that Tetraclita serrata could not stand high
wave forces and would break off or get
detached very easily. The tall structure also
made them better adapted to withstand the
heat, with increased surface area.