INTERTIDAL HABITAT - DOES THE SHORE LEVEL AFFECT THE NUTRITIONAL CONDITION OF THE SHANNY (LIPOPHRYS-PHOLIS, TELEOSTEI, BLENNIIDAE)

The nutritional condition of the shanny (Lipophrys pholis, Teleostei, Blenniidae), an intertidal fish, is affected by the shore level on whi ch it dwells. Depending on the altitude within the intertidal zone acc ess to food is restricted for a certain time. A progressive decrease i n the feeding time for an individual remaining on an increasingly high er shore level leads to a poorer nutritional condition compared to an individual staying at a lower shore level. Trade-off mechanisms betwee n the feeding time and competition for space and/or predation pressure seem to be responsible for the still high abundance of L. pholis on t he upper shore. Possible consequences for growth and reproduction as w ell as distribution patterns are discussed.