LONG-TERM STABILITY OF THE WHITE SEA LITTORAL INVERTEBRATE SIZE-AGE STRUCTURE

Zorina Anastasia Aleksandrovna, Shklyarevich Galina Andreevna

In this work, we studied patterns in the age-related variability of size characteristics of four common invertebrate species (Semibalanus balanoides, Littorina obtusata, Littorina saxatilis, Mytilus edulis) on the Cape Turie, Porya Bay, Luvenga, Ryashkov littoral zone in Kandalaksha Bay for the period 1998–2021. Mytilus edulis is characterized by the greatest age diversity: from 0+ to 14+ at all studied sites. The greatest growth of Semibalanus balanoides occurs in the first year. For all studied species, a linear pattern was established, reflecting the general tendency for the size characteristics of individuals to increase with age, regardless of the littoral zone location. The revealed linear relationship reflects the incompleteness of the species growth processes, the absence of mussel jars aging and their constant rejuvenation under the influence of a birds that intensively feed on invertebrates. Thus, the long-term stability of four species size-age structure, which are the most important trophic components of the White Sea shallow-water ecosystems, is shown within the specially protected natural area of the Kandalaksha Nature Reserve.

Keywords:invertebrates, shallow-water marine ecosystems, long-term stability, species size and age structure, reserve