Diversity and structure of the intertidal community dependent on mussel matrix for shelter from harsh climate.

<p>(A) Average body length of the most common invertebrates found living inside or embedded next to (only limpets) mussel beds. Scientific names of species measured, with x-axis labels in parentheses, were: <i>Anasterias minuta</i> (sea star), <i>Plaxiphora aurata</i> (chiton), <i>Pareuthria plumbea</i> (snail a), <i>Trophon geversianus</i> (snail b), juvenile <i>Perumytilus purpuratus</i> (mussel), <i>Exosphaeroma lanceolata</i> (isopod), multiple species including <i>Halosyndna Patagonica</i>, <i>Mapphysa aenea</i> and <i>Platynereis magalhaensis</i> (scale worm), species names of amphipod species <i>a</i> and <i>b</i> are unknown, <i>Siphonaria lessoni</i> (limpet a), <i>Nacella magellanica</i> (limpet b), <i>Cyrtograpsus altimanus</i> and <i>Halicarcinus platinus</i> (crab);. (B) Species richness of invertebrates found living inside mussel matrix and on bare surfaces at 8 different sites spanning 2100 km of Argentinean coastline, from Northern Patagonia to Rio de Gallegos, Tierra del Fuego. (C) Cumulative species richness at those same sites. Bars are +/−1 SE.