Climate change and latitudinal patterns of intertidal thermal stress.
The interaction of climate and the timing of low tides along the West Coast of the United States creates a complex mosaic of thermal environments, in which northern sites can be more thermally stressful than southern sites. Thus, climate change may not lead to a poleward shift in the distribution of intertidal organisms, as has been proposed, but instead will likely cause localized extinctions at a series of "hot spots." Patterns of exposure to extreme climatic conditions are temporally variable, and tidal predictions suggest that in the next 3 to 5 years "hot spots" are likely to appear at several northern sites.
Helmuth
Brian
B
University of South Carolina, Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Sciences Program, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. helmuth@biol.sc.edu
Harley
Christopher D G
CD
Halpin
Patricia M
PM
O'Donnell
Michael
M
Hofmann
Gretchen E
GE
Blanchette
Carol A
CA
D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000502:physiology*; D001831:Body Temperature; D002980:Climate; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D005843:Geography; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D019601:Pacific States; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater; D013696:Temperature; D014872:Water Movements