Thermal tolerances of Arctic and temperate marine ectotherms under varying rates of change
Lead Research Organisation:
British Antarctic Survey
Department Name: Science Programmes
Abstract
Organism responses to changing environments are currently primarily addressed using two divergent approaches. There are observational studies of range and changes in range of species and secondly there are laboratory investigations of capacities to cope with change in experiments. The former suffer from a lack of detailed understanding of how organism attribute matches environmental conditions and variation in those conditions. The latter suffers from timescale and rate of change problems because experiments are conducted over shorter durations and utilise more rapid change than the vast majority of natural environmental change either observed or predicted. In an attempt to bridge the gap studies in Antarctic marine species have been carried out at markedly varying rates of temperature rise from acute (1C day-1) to long-term acclimated (temperatures for survival of several months). Upper temperature limits for species in these experiments decline exponentially with duration of exposure, such that acute limits are between 8.4C and 17.8C, whereas survival over periods of months only occurs at temperatures of 1.0C to 6.0C. Extrapolation suggests survival temperatures for a year for an 'average' species would be between +2C and +3C. Antarctic marine species are, however, markedly stenothermal and sensitive to rising temperature. There is an acute need for similar data for species from other regions. This study will investigating how abilities to cope with change vary with differing rates of change in animals from Arctic and temperate (UK) localities. Different groups of animals from different trophic guilds (carnivores, scavengers, grazers and suspension feeders) will be assessed to identify differing capacities to survive in different groups and in species with differing activity and aerobic scope levels. Data will also be obtained on how various life history characters are affected by this, with the expected hypothesis that embryonic and larval phases will be markedly more sensitive than adults. Specifically survival limits, abilities to perform essential biological functions and viability of embryos and larvae will be assessed in differing regimes of experimental temperature elevation from acute (1C day-1) through medium term (weekly temperature changes) to acclimated (long-term survival for months to years) regimes. Tolerances of embryos and larvae of specimens acclimated to elevated temperature will also be compared with control groups (no temperature elevation) to evaluate F1 adaptation effects.
Publications
Marchais V
(2015)
Coupling experimental and field-based approaches to decipher carbon sources in the shell of the great scallop, Pecten maximus (L.)
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Morley S
(2014)
Rates of warming and the global sensitivity of shallow water marine invertebrates to elevated temperature
in Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
Peck LS
(2014)
Acclimation and thermal tolerance in Antarctic marine ectotherms.
in The Journal of experimental biology
Richard J
(2012)
Thermal acclimation capacity for four Arctic marine benthic species
in Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
Description | Arctic collaboration |
Organisation | University of Western Brittany |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | One of our team, J. Richard joined the French Arctic programme in 2013 and 2014 and carried out field research projects in Svalbard. She also continued analysing her data on return to Europe |
Collaborator Contribution | The French team she joined helped with the research projects. CNRS provided all necessary financial and logistics support. |
Impact | none to date |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Antarctic Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | 250 academics from across the world attended Several contacts were made asking for research collaborations. Three have led to concrete interactions |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Innovation presentation to Cambridge university |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | 60 Cambridge university academics attended. The aim was to stimulate thinking about collaborations around the BAs/UCam innovation centre. 12 applications for pilot funded projects from the U Cam call in 2013 were made following this presentation. 6 were successful and are now running |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Invited specialist conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | 35 leading international academics attended Much progress in thinking in field |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Malac Soc |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | 120 international academics attended Much following interest and debate. Two requests for collaboration |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Naked scientist |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Panel memeber of the Naked scientist programme for rdio - reached audiences of tens of thousands Further requests for information |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Radio 4 the life scientific |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | the PI (LSP) weas subject of the radio 4 "Life Scientific" programme broadcast on Radio 4 and the World Service Several groups (schools, WI groups and Camera Clubs) have asked for further information or visits |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | SCAR EBA |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | 50-60 invited attendees of international specialists meeting further requests for information. Two collaborations progressed |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | SCAR Horizon Scan |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | 80 leading international academics came together to identify the large questions on the horizon for antarctic research. To inform the academic community, stakeholder and policy maker decisions. 1 paper in Nature, a second in Antarctic science. Follow up meetings in at least 6 countries to identify how to use the information produced in national programmes. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Talk to Galapagos Trust |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 50 invited stakeholders and supporters of the Galapagos trust attended. My presentation was on similarities between the problems caused by climate change in Antarctica and the Galapagos. Penguin examples were amongst severl others. The audience spent over 30 mins in the question session after the presentation |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Talk to Oxford Science Union |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | 75 academics attended the presentation n/a |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | uk horizon Scan |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | 20-30 academics and managers attended meeting and discussion groups Information provided for future decisions on priorities for funding |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |