Jonathan Robinson Marine and Estuarine Science Program  Department of Biology   B.A. Marine Science, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 2005. Email: robins25@cc.wwu.edu Phone:  360-650-2386     Biology Department                Western Washington University     Mail Stop 9160     Bellingham, WA 98225-9160

Project:   Effects of wave force on the energetics of the keyhole limpet Diodora aspera

The intertidal zone is a valuable habitat in which to study the physiological and ecological costs and benefits of living in an extreme environment.  The organisms in this region are adapted to live with a wide spectrum of conditions.  For example, wave force is an important physical parameter that affects organisms in the intertidal zone.  Physiologically, wave force may have large energetic ramifications as the energy spent coping with wave force might otherwise be used for reproduction or growth.  However, organisms that are adapted to this energetic stress may also benefit from wave action.  For example, water flow can increase oxygen availability to animals by increasing the flow of water over their gills and may also increase food availability to sit-and-wait foragers.

I focused on wave force in order to understand how it affects the metabolism of a local limpet, Diodora aspera.  D. aspera is a locally abundant species that plays an important role within its wave swept rocky intertidal community.  This species is distinguished by a circular hole at the apex of its shell that functions as an exhalent opening through which all excurrent water flows.  This morphological trait makes it an excellent organism to conduct metabolic studies on, as metabolic rate is easily measured by monitoring the oxygen content of the exhalent water.  I measured oxygen consumption of D. aspera by monitoring dissolved oxygen in the water that had passed over the limpets’ gills, accomplished via a mask covering the apical opening of the shell.  Thus, I can measure the metabolic response of the organism while it is subjected to wave forces.  I hope this will give me insight into the costs and benefits of living in a wave swept environment.


Affiliations:
GK-12 Fellowship