Long-term, high frequency in situ measurements of intertidal mussel bed temperatures using biomimetic sensors

Helmuth, Brian; Choi, Francis; Matzelle, Allison; Torossian, Jessica L.; Morello, Scott L.; Mislan, K. A. S.; Yamane, Lauren; Strickland, Denise; Szathmary, P. Lauren; Gilman, Sarah E.; Tockstein, Alyson; Hilbish, Thomas J.; Burrows, Michael T.; Power, Anne Marie; Gosling, Elizabeth; Mieszkowska, Nova; Harley, Christopher D. G.; Nishizaki, Michael T.; Carrington, Emily; Menge, Bruce A.; Petes, Laura E.; Foley, Melissa M.; Johnson, Angela; Poole, Megan; Noble, Mae M.; Richmond, Erin L.; Robart, Matt; Robinson, Jonathan; Sapp, Jerod; Sones, Jackie; Broitman, Bernardo R.; Denny, Mark W.; Mach, Katharine J.; Miller, Luke P.; O’Donnell, Michael J.; Ross, Philip M.; Hofmann, Gretchen E.; Zippay, Mackenzie L.; Blanchette, Carol A.; Macfarlan, J.; Carpizo‐Ituarte, Eugenio; Ruttenberg, Benjamin I.; Mejía, Carlos; McQuaid, Christopher D.; Lathlean, Justin A.; Monaco, Cristián J.; Nicastro, Katy R.; Zardi, Gerardo I.

doi:10.1038/sdata.2016.87

Cited by 78 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…This technique has been used frequently in the field to estimate mussel body temperatures (Helmuth et al. ). To estimate body temperatures in the absence of tides, we placed the mussel mimics (10 of each shell type) on the roof of the Zoology Department at the University of Washington (47°39.2′ N, 122°18.6′ W).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symbiotic endolithic microbes alter host morphology and reduce host vulnerability to high environmental temperatures

Gehman

Harley

2019

Ecosphere

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Thermal stresses, such as those associated with global warming, have the potential to change the strength and even the direction of interspecific interactions. On rocky shores, bio‐eroding microbial endoliths infect the mussel Mytilus californianus. Infestation by microbial endoliths can weaken the shell and lead to mechanical failure and death, increased vulnerability to predation, mechanical damage, etc. However, endolith infestation is associated with the loss of the dark‐colored periostracum, exposing the underlying light gray prismatic layer of the shell and potentially reducing stressful heat gain during low tide. We explore the consequences of the mussel–endolith relationship on mussel tolerance to high environmental temperature through a series of experimental manipulations and comparative observations. Experimental sterilization of the shell surface reduces the rate of periostracum loss, suggesting that the change in shell surface color is indeed caused by microbes residing on/in the shell. Eroded shells absorbed less solar energy than shells with their periostracum intact, and mussel mimics with infested shells remained cooler on sunny days. Manipulation of shell color in the field resulted in higher mortality in black‐painted mussels relative to gray‐painted or naturally eroded mussels. Furthermore, following exceedingly hot weather, mortality was significantly lower for heavily infested, light‐colored mussels than for lightly infested, dark‐colored mussels. Thus, although shell‐boring microbes have the potential to act as parasites under the majority of conditions experienced by mussels, they may be critical mutualists during periods of intense thermal stress. This context‐dependent symbiosis may allow mussels to occupy higher shore levels than would otherwise be possible, and thus indirectly benefit the hundreds of species which use mussel beds as habitat.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symbiotic endolithic microbes alter host morphology and reduce host vulnerability to high environmental temperatures

Gehman

Harley

2019

Ecosphere

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“…To capture this effect, we analyzed temperature data collected using Robomussels (mussel models with an embedded thermistor; Helmuth et al. ) at a number of study sites. Using these data, we calculated the average maximum low tide temperature (Fig.…”

Section: Prediction 4 Where Upwelling Is Strong and Persistent Settmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Investigators recently have begun to examine the potential effects of surf zone hydrodynamics on the delivery of larvae and phytoplankton subsidies to shore (Rilov et al 2008, Shanks et al 2010, 2016. Surf zones vary from reflective (steeply angled shores with narrow surf zones) to more dissipative (gently sloping shores with wide surf zones).…”

Section: Prediction 2 Larvae Of Nearshore Species Should Occur Farthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing the intermittent upwelling hypothesis: upwelling, downwelling, and subsidies to the intertidal zone

Shanks

Morgan

2017

Ecological Monographs

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Abstract. The Intermittent Upwelling Hypothesis (IUH) posits that subsidies of larvae and phytoplankton to intertidal communities should vary unimodally along a gradient of upwelling from persistent upwelling to persistent downwelling with most subsidies occurring where upwelling is of intermediate strength and intermittent. Furthermore, the hypothesis states that larvae and phytoplankton are transported far offshore by strong, persistent upwelling and fail to subsidize nearshore communities, whereas weak upwelling or downwelling reduces nutrients for phytoplankton production limiting food for larvae and nearshore communities. We review studies conducted at sea and onshore and reanalyze published data to test the IUH and evaluate alternative hypotheses. To test the hypothesis, we examine five predictions that must hold if the IUH is true. (1) Larvae should inhabit the surface Ekman layer where they are transported offshore during upwelling. Larvae of many intertidal taxa occur deeper in the water column where currents flow shoreward during upwelling. (2) Larvae of nearshore species should occur farther offshore during upwelling than during relaxation or downwelling. Larvae of many nearshore species remain within several kilometers of shore during both conditions. (3) Larval settlement in intertidal communities should be lower during upwelling than relaxation or downwelling. Daily larval settlement has not observed to be higher during relaxation or downwelling events; settlement has most often been seen to vary with the fortnightly tidal cycle likely due to onshore larval transport by internal tides. (4) Larval settlement and recruitment in intertidal communities should be lower in areas of strong, persistent upwelling than where upwelling is weaker and less persistent. Recruitment of mussels and barnacles to artificial and natural substrates did not vary with the strength of upwelling, but did vary inversely with two measures of desiccation potential, and directly with indicators of surf zone hydrodynamics; larval recruitment was higher where surf zones were more dissipative with rip currents. (5) Phytoplankton subsidies to nearshore communities should be highest where upwelling is moderate and intermittent. Like larval subsidies, phytoplankton subsidies varied spatially with surf zone hydrodynamics rather than upwelling. This reconsideration of the evidence for the IUH finds the hypothesis unsupported.

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“…In marine systems, organisms generally occupy the entirety of their “thermal niche” meaning marine populations are particularly responsive to warming (Sunday, Bates, & Dulvy, ). While local conditions can cause mosaic patterns of stress intensities in the intertidal (Helmuth et al., ; Lourenço et al., ), it is still range margins that are seen to be at the forefront of warming trends, resulting in poleward range expansions (leading edge) or contractions (trailing edge) (Chen, Hill, Ohlemüller, Roy, & Thomas, ; Hampe & Petit, ; Poloczanska et al., ). Understanding the physical determinants that set these boundaries is therefore critical for predicting the structure and functioning of ecosystems as climate change progresses (Gaston, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cumulative stress restricts niche filling potential of habitat‐forming kelps in a future climate

et al. 2017

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Climate change is driving range contractions and local population extinctions across the globe. When this affects ecosystem engineers the vacant niches left behind are likely to alter the wider ecosystem unless a similar species can fulfil them.Here, we explore the stress physiology of two coexisting kelps undergoing opposing range shifts in the Northeast Atlantic and discuss what differences in stress physiology may mean for future niche filling.We used chlorophyll florescence (F v /F m) and differentiation of the heat shock response (HSR) to determine the capacity of the expanding kelp, Laminaria ochroleuca, to move into the higher shore position of the retreating kelp, Laminaria digitata. We applied both single and consecutive exposures to immersed and emersed high and low temperature treatments, replicating low tide exposures experienced in summer and winter.No interspecific differences in HSR were observed which was surprising given the species’ different biogeographic distributions. However, chlorophyll florescence revealed clear differences between species with L. ochroleuca better equipped to tolerate high immersed temperatures but showed little capacity to tolerate frosts or high emersion temperatures.Many patterns observed were only apparent after consecutive exposures. Such cumulative effects have largely been overlooked in tolerance experiments on intertidal organisms despite being more representative of the stress experienced in natural habitats. We therefore suggest future experiments incorporate consecutive stress into their design.Climate change is predicted to result in fewer ground frosts and increased summer temperatures. Therefore, L. ochroleuca may be released from its summer cold limit in winter but still be prevented from moving up the shore due to desiccation in the summer. Laminaria ochroleuca will, however, likely be able to move into tidal pools. Therefore, only partial niche filling by L. ochroleuca will be possible in this system as climate change advances. A plain language summary is available for this article.

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Long-term, high frequency in situ measurements of intertidal mussel bed temperatures using biomimetic sensors

Cited by 78 publications

References 72 publications

Symbiotic endolithic microbes alter host morphology and reduce host vulnerability to high environmental temperatures

Symbiotic endolithic microbes alter host morphology and reduce host vulnerability to high environmental temperatures

Testing the intermittent upwelling hypothesis: upwelling, downwelling, and subsidies to the intertidal zone

Cumulative stress restricts niche filling potential of habitat‐forming kelps in a future climate

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