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Spatial variability in the population dynamics of the intertidal acorn barnacle Semibalanus balanoides was investigated using a hierarchical sampling programme. Variability in a number of population parameters (size distribution, density,% cover, absolute growth and instantaneous mortality) was determined separately for new recruits and adults over 3 spatial scales. Three locations, SW Ireland, the Isle of Man and the west coast of Sweden, which cover a large part of the European range of this species, were selected to investigate variability over a large spatial scale (100s of kilometres). Two smaller scales, shore (1000s of metres) and site (10s of metres) nested within each location were also used. In addition, temporal variation over two 6 mo periods was also examined in the Isle of Man and Ireland. Most variability for all population parameters occurred over the largest spatial scale (location). This was a direct …