Recruitment dynamics and seasonal variability of Patella candei and Chthamalus stellatus on rocky intertidal shores of São Miguel Island (Azores, NE Atlantic)

The study aimed to characterize the recruitment dynamics and seasonal variability of the limpet Patella candei and the barnacle Chthamalus stellatus, two ecologically important species of Azorean rocky shore communities. Recruitment plates made of natural basalt stone were deployed in the mid-intertidal zone and replaced monthly to assess temporal patterns in larval settlement and recruit abundance.

Recruits were identified and quantified under laboratory conditions using stereomicroscopy. The dataset provides baseline information on intertidal recruitment dynamics and seasonal variability of rocky shore invertebrates in the Azores, supporting future ecological research, biodiversity monitoring, and long-term assessments of coastal community dynamics in Macaronesian rocky shore ecosystems.