Siqi Lai ¹ Ling Shi ^1,2 Yida Han ¹ Ying Tian ^1,3* Hao Zhen Lin ^1*

• ¹ Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, China
• ² Institute for Geological Sciences, Department of Earth Sciences, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
• ³ Other, Daliam, China

A investigation into the phenotypic plasticity of Littorina brevicula across two disparate tidal zones was conducted. A total of 254 specimens of L.brevicula were collected from the intertidal expanse and subjected to a tripartite analytical approach encompassing traditional morphometric techniques, geometric morphometric methods (GM), and three-dimensional (3D) model simulation analyses.The resultes demonstrated that shell growth in the high tidal zone was slower in comparison to the mid tidal zone. Notably, distinct morphological disparities were discerned between the specimens sourced from the high and mid-tidal zones.Specifically, specimens inhabiting the high tidal zone exhibited shells with relatively lower spires and a more spherical conformation, whereas their shell shape in the mid tidal zone boasted more elongated spires and a tower-like shell shape. Subsequent analysis within simulated flow milieus unveiled disparate stress distributions upon the shells of L.brevicula. In the mid-tide zone simulation, stress was predominantly concentrated within a circumscribed region. In contrast, the high-tide zone simulation evinced a more expansive stress distribution on the entire shell. The study provide an essential evidence for a comprehensive analysis of the adaptability of intertidal gastropods to their environmental niches.