Abstract

Environmental elements such as changing rapidly changing temperature, prolonged periods of low to no water exposure, desiccation, predation and increased wave action can influence the diversity of microhabitats that inhabit the littoral zones. When making observations of various shorelines, specifically the physical conditions of the surrounding marine vegetation (i.e. Fucus distichus), an inquiry is made as to the role of Fucus in the amelioration of stressors on the marine habitat during low tide (MLLW), however, due to time considerations, temperature and humidity are the focus of this study. Using temperature and humidity probes, monitoring data shows that Fucus provides relatively humid and cooler conditions for organisms residing beneath the canopy during low tide. Varied weather during the experimental trials allows for monitoring during cool, overcast, and sunny days, allowing for evaluation of Fucus distichus' efficacy in innate conditions. Further investigation, requiring warmer conditions and additional replicates are needed to fully assess the ability of Fucus to moderate environmental conditions beneath its canopy.

Disciplines

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | Life Sciences | Marine Biology

Mentor

Chela Zabin

Lab site

Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies (RTC)

Funding Acknowledgement

The 2019 STEM Teacher and Researcher Program and this project have been made possible through support from Chevron (www.chevron.com), the National Science Foundation through the Robert Noyce Program under Grant #1836335 and 1340110, the California State University Office of the Chancellor, and California Polytechnic State University in partnership with Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and Estuary & Ocean Science Center. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funders.

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URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/577

 

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