xii, 148 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / The gumboot chiton Cryptochiton stelleri is the largest intertidal invertebrate herbivore on rocky shores in the Pacific Northwest. This study documented the larval development, metamorphosis, distribution and life history of this species. Growth rings in valves of Cryptochiton stelleri and Katharina tunicata were used to determine age and showed life spans of at least 40 years for C. stelleri and 17 years for K. tunicata. Field surveys in southern Oregon showed that C. stelleri populations are densest in small coves as a result of mortality, food availability, or larval retention. Growth curves based on length, weight and volume were created for several intertidal invertebrates. When incorporated into energy allocation models, length-based curves can underestimate growth and exaggerate an energetic shift from growth to reproduction. Estimates of food intake and reproductive output showed that continuous growth leads to higher food intake and increased fecundity in several organisms with indeterminate growth. / Committee in Charge: Dr. Alan L. Shanks, Chair; Dr. Cynthia D. Trowbridge; Dr. Richard B. Emlet