ASSESSMENT OF AN UNPRECEDENTED HEATWAVE ON INTERTIDAL SHELLFISH OF THE SALISH SEA
Streaming Media
Presentation Abstract
From 26 - 28 June 2021, the Pacific Northwest of the United States and British Columbia, Canada experienced an unprecedented atmospheric heatwave that coincided with the lowest low tides of the year. During and immediately following the event, many local scientists, resource managers, and members of the general public reported intertidal areas with numerous dead and dying marine organisms including barnacles, mussels, clams, and oysters. In response, members of the panel and other collaborators developed a semi-quantitative survey to assess any effects the heatwave had on nearshore invertebrates. Our goal was to rapidly inventory observations across a broad geographic scale to assess general status of intertidal species post-heatwave and to serve as a starting point for future detailed quantitative research and monitoring. We found that nearly all species observed, including barnacles, mussels, oysters, and various clam species, experienced some negative effects of the heatwave. Negative effects appear to be associated with the natural history of the species and modulated by sub regional variation in the timing of low tide and exposure. While many of our observations were negative, pockets of resilience were observed in nearly all species, potentially highlighting locations which may be resilient to a continually warming climate. Panelists will share observations, current research and monitoring efforts, and encourage conversations around the broader issues of the long-term social and ecological effects of climate change-induced mass mortality events.
Session Title
Heatwave Effects on Salish Sea Shellfish (Panel)
Conference Track
SSE9: Nearshore
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-panels-16
Start Date
28-4-2022 8:30 AM
End Date
28-4-2022 10:00 AM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Shellfish--Climatic factors--Risk assessment--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Climatic changes--Risk assessment--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Oceanography--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)--Observations
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
ASSESSMENT OF AN UNPRECEDENTED HEATWAVE ON INTERTIDAL SHELLFISH OF THE SALISH SEA
From 26 - 28 June 2021, the Pacific Northwest of the United States and British Columbia, Canada experienced an unprecedented atmospheric heatwave that coincided with the lowest low tides of the year. During and immediately following the event, many local scientists, resource managers, and members of the general public reported intertidal areas with numerous dead and dying marine organisms including barnacles, mussels, clams, and oysters. In response, members of the panel and other collaborators developed a semi-quantitative survey to assess any effects the heatwave had on nearshore invertebrates. Our goal was to rapidly inventory observations across a broad geographic scale to assess general status of intertidal species post-heatwave and to serve as a starting point for future detailed quantitative research and monitoring. We found that nearly all species observed, including barnacles, mussels, oysters, and various clam species, experienced some negative effects of the heatwave. Negative effects appear to be associated with the natural history of the species and modulated by sub regional variation in the timing of low tide and exposure. While many of our observations were negative, pockets of resilience were observed in nearly all species, potentially highlighting locations which may be resilient to a continually warming climate. Panelists will share observations, current research and monitoring efforts, and encourage conversations around the broader issues of the long-term social and ecological effects of climate change-induced mass mortality events.
