Thermal stress on intertidal limpets: long-term hindcasts and lethal limits.

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Ecological Physiology
• Biophysical Modeling

Background:

• The limpet, Lottia gigantea, is ecologically significant in intertidal zones.
• Understanding thermal tolerances is crucial for predicting species' responses to climate change.
• Body temperature regulation is key to survival in fluctuating environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model the body temperature of Lottia gigantea using a heat-budget model.
• To investigate environmental and topographic influences on limpet body temperature.
• To determine the thermal limits and drivers of upper shore distribution for L. gigantea.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a heat-budget model integrated with long-term meteorological data.
• Simulated body temperatures across various environmental and topographic conditions.
• Analyzed predicted body temperatures against known lethal and sublethal thermal thresholds.

Main Results:

• Maximum predicted body temperature (37.5°C) is generally insufficient to cause acute mortality.
• Lethal temperatures occur rarely, on specific orientations and elevations, and infrequently over 5 years.
• Maximum air temperature accurately predicts maximum body temperature, despite body temperature often being higher.

Conclusions:

• Acute thermal stress is unlikely to be the sole determinant of L. gigantea's upper shore distribution.
• Behavioral adaptations, sublethal effects, or ecological interactions likely regulate upper limits.
• Future warming may increase mortality risk; further research on thermal variability and limits is needed.