TEMPERATURE RELATIONS OF CENTRAL OREGON MARINE INTERTIDAL INVERTEBRATES.
Abstract
The report is concerned with environmental and animal internal temperatures in the intertidal zone at low tide. Daily sea surface temperatures at Agate Beach, Ore., are compared to weekly measurements made near-by. Greater range and fluctuations are revealed by daily measurements. Data are provided on animal internal temperatures at low tide in early summer for 16 common invertebrates of the rocky intertidal, and some heating rates for the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, in June, 1968, during a heat-kill period. All species were found to normally sustain as much as 10C increases above sea surface temperatures at low tide in early summer. Implications of this for other aspects of the biology of the intertidal fauna are discussed. The hypothesis is advanced that intertidal invertebrates require a temperature regime which includes as seasonal variations both the low and high temperatures experienced at low tide. The increased digestive and assimilative efficiency produced by summer low tide high internal temperatures may be necessary for successful food utilization and gonad reserve build-up. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0682221
Entities
People
- Jefferson J. Gonor
Organizations
- Oregon State University