Quadrat-based survey of rocky intertidal Patella populations in the Azores (2006)

The surveys were designed to assess the abundance, size structure, and spatial distribution of Patella species inhabiting intertidal rocky habitats. Sampling was carried out using standardized quadrat methods, allowing the quantification of limpet densities and population characteristics across sites.

The dataset provides valuable baseline information on the status of Azorean limpet populations prior to more recent environmental and anthropogenic changes, supporting ecological research, conservation planning, fisheries management, and long-term monitoring of intertidal ecosystems. This dataset contributes to the documentation of coastal biodiversity in the Azores and serves as a reference for evaluating temporal changes in ecologically and culturally important intertidal gastropod populations.