Description

This research examines the impact of temperature increase due to anthropogenic climate change on California barnacle species, Chthalamus fissus. Given the prominence of the species in southern California, impacts to the species could translate to environmental impacts to intertidal ecosystems. We tested the hypothesis that different temperatures will have an effect on mortality and growth. To evaluate the effect of temperature on Chthalamus fissus, we cultivated barnacles in the lab for 8 weeks at average temperatures of 14°C, 22 °C and 28°C. Daily mortality and weekly growth of the barnacles was tracked. Results show increased mortality with elevated temperature. Results showed that at 8 weeks, barnacles kept at 22°C had a significantly larger basal diameter than those kept at 14°C. Our results also suggest that barnacles may have a short-term tolerance to extreme temperatures, as mortality in the 28°C treatment was comparable to the other treatments for the first 3 weeks, but those barnacles had all died by the end of week 6. It appears that barnacles are at increased risk of mortality as sea surface temperatures increase due to global warming.

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Growth and Mortality of Barnacle Chthalamus fissus in the Context of Climate Change

This research examines the impact of temperature increase due to anthropogenic climate change on California barnacle species, Chthalamus fissus. Given the prominence of the species in southern California, impacts to the species could translate to environmental impacts to intertidal ecosystems. We tested the hypothesis that different temperatures will have an effect on mortality and growth. To evaluate the effect of temperature on Chthalamus fissus, we cultivated barnacles in the lab for 8 weeks at average temperatures of 14°C, 22 °C and 28°C. Daily mortality and weekly growth of the barnacles was tracked. Results show increased mortality with elevated temperature. Results showed that at 8 weeks, barnacles kept at 22°C had a significantly larger basal diameter than those kept at 14°C. Our results also suggest that barnacles may have a short-term tolerance to extreme temperatures, as mortality in the 28°C treatment was comparable to the other treatments for the first 3 weeks, but those barnacles had all died by the end of week 6. It appears that barnacles are at increased risk of mortality as sea surface temperatures increase due to global warming.

 

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