BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Lacuna vincta
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Angus Jackson	Data supplied by	MarLIN
Refereed by	Dr John Grahame
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Found on all British and Irish coasts.
Global distribution	Circumboreal extending south to Brittany.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range	Low shore to 40
Migratory	Seasonal (reproduction)
Distribution Additional Information	The species is found on a wide variety of coasts round the British Isles. It occasionally settles from the plankton as high as the mid tide level but is more typically found much further down the shore. The larvae settle out on a variety of algal species. The preferred species in the British Isles include Fucus serratus, Laminaria spp. and on red algal turf, particularly Lomentaria articulata. Also sometimes found on Zostera spp. Lacuna vincta has been recorded in salinities as low as 12-13 psu. Larval settlement from the plankton may occur in water velocities of 2.2m/s. There is a possible inshore migration by subtidal individuals in spring for breeding. The species requires considerable shelter from wave action and water flow. It acquires this shelter by selecting suitable habitats Exposure to adversely strong water currents may result in lifting of the foot and production of long sticky mucus threads allowing passive drifting in the water column to disperse to better conditions.

Substratum preferences	Algae	Physiographic preferences	Open coast Sealoch Ria / Voe Estuary
Biological zone		Wave exposure	Moderately Exposed Sheltered Very Sheltered Extremely Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Moderately Strong (1-3 kn) Weak (<1 kn) Very Weak (negligible)	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu) Variable (18-40 psu) Reduced (18-30 psu) Low (<18 psu)
Habitat Preferences Additional Information
Distribution References	Campbell, 1994, Hayward et al., 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Fretter & Graham, 1994, Fretter & Manly, 1977, Martel & Diefenbach, 1993,