The impacts of pollution on the growth, reproduction and population structure of Hong Kong limpets

The impacts of pollution on the growth, reproduction and population structure of two Hong Kong limpets, Patelloida saccharina and Patelloida pygmaea, have been investigated. Specimens were collected from four study sites; Stonecutters Island in Victoria Harbour (heavily polluted) and three other sites experiencing lesser levels of contamination; Discovery Bay, Repulse Bay and Cape dʹAguilar (clean) and which together form a transect set from the more polluted, estuarine, northwest to the less polluted, oceanic, south-east in Hong Kong waters. At Stonecutters Island, P. saccharina and P. pygmaea showed significantly higher gonosomatic index (GSI) values, a shorter recruitment period, lower density but a significantly larger individual size in comparison with individuals from the other relatively cleaner sites. This can be explained as a phenotypic adaptation, in terms of the two speciesʹ life history tactics and sexual strategies, to a polluted environment, facilitating individual survival and reproduction