Meeting Abstract

P1.7  Tuesday, Jan. 4  Biomimetic Desiccation Loggers for Intertidal Mollusks BURNETT, N.P.*; LIMA, F.P.; WETHEY, D.S.; Univeristy of South Carolina; Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos; University of South Carolina burnettnp@gmail.com

Intertidal organisms regularly experience both marine and terrestrial habitats and can be affected by extreme conditions in either habitat. In particular, sessile organisms or those with limited mobility, cannot actively escape or avoid stressful conditions and are potential indicators of the effects of climate change on species distribution in the intertidal zone. Microclimate choice in a variable environment is a key factor to the survival of these organisms. Biomimetic data loggers can measure physical stresses experienced by intertidal organisms in the field, across the range of potential habitat variability, to examine their effects on species distribution or zonation in the intertidal. Previous biomimetics have only measured parameters such as wave force and body temperature, ignoring the prevalent stress of desiccation. We discuss the application and limitations of a newly developed biomimetic data logger intended to measure the desiccation potential of any microclimate as experienced by intertidal limpets. We show that the zonation of some limpet species is strongly influenced by desiccation potential.