Orientation of littoral amphipods in two sandy beaches of Brittany (France) with wide tidal excursions

Abstract

Sandhoppers orient towards the shoreline using a sun compass when they are subject to dry conditions. In this study we analysed the orientation of populations from two sandy beaches with wide tidal excursions (Brittany, France): at Damgan (sea to the South) and at Le Verger (sea to the North). At Le Verger beach Talitrus saltator was found together with Deshayesorchestia deshayesii (former Talorchestia deshayesii). The results of the experiments on sun and landscape orientation showed that the Damgan T. saltator oriented better with ebbing tides than with rising tides, while the Le Verger T. saltator showed the opposite trend as a response to tides. This is probably related to the differing risk of being swept away by tides at the two localities. D. deshayesii was found to be more scattered in orientation than T. saltator, probably because it is a recent colonizer of that beach.

Keywords:

• Talitrus saltator
• Deshayesorchestia deshayesii (former Talorchestia deshayesii)
• orientation
• tide
• landscape vision
• sandy beaches

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the Galileus Project of Cooperation between Italy and France 2005–2006. \noindent The experiments are in conformity with French laws.