Tessaly Jen Advisor: Jim Watanabe BIO 175H Anthopleura Sea Anemone Distribution in the Rocky Intertidal at Hopkins Marine Station Abstract Climate change has already begun to change species abundances and distributions within intertidal habitats. Monitoring such changes over time provides valuable information about potential shifts in ecosystem dynamics. Congeners of the sea anemone Anthopleura are conspicuous members of intertidal communities along the North American Pacific coast. Previous studies have shown that these congeners differ in their latitudinal habitat range. This study attempted to discern the distribution of anemones in the intertidal at Hopkins Marine Station. It found that A. xanthogrammica were significantly more abundant in the exposed areas on the western side of the point, while A. sola were significantly more abundant on the relatively protected eastern side of the point. These distributions were correlated with temperature—the body temperatures of emersed A. xanthogrammica were significantly lower than those of A. sola. Potential decreases in the more cold-adapted A. xanthogrammica and increases in the warmadapted A. sola may occur as climate change ensues, and this study provides a baseline against which future distribution studies may be compared. Permission is granted to use the citation and abstract of this paper. Introduction The thermal tolerances and optimal temperature ranges of species may be increasingly important as the effects of climate change intensify. From the hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean to the rocky intertidal at the surface, species distributions are commonly correlated with temperature gradients. For example, the vertical distributions of Tegula congeners in the intertidal are set by thermal tolerance limits (Tomanek and Somero 1999). For these snails (and many other organisms) these tolerance levels are associated with heat damage to proteins and other physiological structures, and the species’ ability to respond to stress with heat shock proteins (Tomanek and Somero 1999). Latitudinal species ranges are also often associated temperature gradients and thermal tolerance. For example the upper and lower thermal limits of different species of porcelain crabs of the genus Petrolisthes, as set by cardiac function, correspond to habitat temperatures in colder temperate regions and warmer tropical regions (Stillman 2003). Such thermal tolerances have profound implications for warming associated with climate change. As warmer temperatures spread to higher latitudes, species replacements and distribution shifts are likely to create drastic changes in intertidal ecosystems. Such distribution shifts have already begun to occur. A study of limpet congeners at Hopkins Marine Station illustrates a northward shift in both species (Crummett and Eernisse 2007). The range of the southern congener, Lottia austrodigitalis, was found to have shifted substantially northward at the expense of the northern congener, Lottia digitalis, between 1978 and 1998 (Crummett and Eernisse 2007). Another study at Hopkins Marine Station identified increases in southern invertebrates and decreases in northern 2 invertebrates from the 1930s to the 1990s (Barry et al. 1995). Continued observations of the occurrence and rate of these shifts provide valuable information about global, regional, and local impacts of climate change. Sea anemones of the genus Anthopleura have different latitudinal distributions with wide overlapping ranges. Anthopleura xanthogrammica and Anthopleura sola, two solitary Anthopleura species, both have considerable populations in the California rocky intertidal. A. xanthogrammica has a more northern distribution, ranging from northern Baja to Alaska (Sagarin and Gaines 2002). Meanwhile A. sola ranges from central Baja to northern California (Sagarin and Gaines 2002). This study attempted to provide baseline knowledge of the relative abundances of each species in the rocky intertidal at Hopkins Marine Station. This map of Anthopleura distributions may be a useful comparison for future studies. Furthermore this study attempted to determine if either congener had a habitat preference (in relation to the vertical gradient or the lateral gradient from exposed to protected regions) within the intertidal. Lastly, the study sought to determine correlations between temperature and species abundance. Methods Study Species and Study Site Primarily two species of Anthopleura sea anemones were assessed: A. sola and A. xanthogrammica. A. elegantissima, the cloning Anthopleura, was also considered, but the spatially heterogeneous nature of A. elegantissima colonies complicated sampling efforts and thus focus was given to the two solitary species instead. The prevalence of A. xanthogrammica and A. sola in the intertidal, their relatively easily identifiable features, 3 and differing latitudinal ranges made them ideal species to examine for relationships between temperature and distribution. Field experiments were conducted in the rocky intertidal at Hopkins Marine Station (HMS) of Stanford University in Pacific Grove, CA (36°36’N, 121°54’W). The study site lies within the Lovers Point State Marine Reserve, one of the four small marine protected areas in the Monterey/Pacific Grove coastline. Its latitude within the overlapping region of the three study species’ ranges makes it a key location to study potential species distribution and abundance shifts. Transects to assess species abundance were completed during low tide 19 April, 20 April, 21 April, 29 April, 30 April, 3 May, 17 May, and 19 May (2010). A. sola and A. xanthogrammica body temperatures were measured on 19 May, 2010. Experimental Design Six transects were chosen to represent wave-exposed environments and six were chosen to represent protected environments. The protected sites were mostly shielded from incoming waves by large rocks and thus experienced less wave action and reached warmer temperatures than the exposed sites (Fig. 1). Two transects, one in an exposed area and one in a protected area, were sampled by a Stanford University biology class along transects which were delineated by permanent bolts on the rocks and which have been monitored for species abundances since 2002. The remaining ten transects were chosen to span the majority of the point, 5 in exposed areas and 5 in protected areas (Fig. 1). 4 Transects ran perpendicular to the shoreline from the higher intertidal (beyond the vertical limit of anemone distribution) to the lowest point that was sufficiently exposed to sample at low tide. .25 m2 quadrats were placed on altering sides of each transect at every meter. A. sola and A. xanthogrammica individuals were counted and recorded and percent cover of A. elegantissima was estimated within quadrats. A visual estimate of algal cover and substrate was also recorded. Quadrat heights were estimated using reference heights with known absolute heights above MLLW, a surveyor’s level, and a 4m stadia rod. Temperature data were obtained every hour starting at 7am and continuing until the tide had risen high enough to submerge all A. sola individuals and the majority of A. xathogrammica individuals at 2pm. Body temperature was measured using a thermocouple. Forty A. xanthogrammica individuals and 40 A. sola individuals were sampled, almost all of which were emersed for the majority of the sampling period, which occurred from 7am to 2pm. Individual A. xanthogrammica were all located within roughly a 10m radius at a wave-exposed site and individual A. sola were all located within a roughly 10m radius at a wave-protected site (Fig. 2). These sites were chosen to represent the exposed area as a whole and the protected area as a whole. If anything, the chosen protected site (where A. sola individuals were monitored) was not as warm and sheltered as many of the other sites, thus any differences indicated by the study are likely amplified in other regions of the intertidal. Statistical Analysis 5 T-tests were used to compare the mean number of A. xanthogrammica per square meter in exposed sites versus protected sites. The same was done for A. sola. T-tests were also used to compare the mean height of A. xanthogrammica and A. sola individuals along common transects. Lastly, T-tests were used to identify significant differences in the mean temperatures of A. xanthogrammica and A. sola at each hour of the thermal study. Results Abundance Study A. xanthogrammica and A. sola differed distinctly in abundance along the Hopkins shoreline (Fig. 3). The mean population density of A. xanthogrammica was significantly higher in exposed areas compared to protected areas (t = 2.933, P = .015; Fig. 4). The mean density of A. sola showed the opposite pattern and was significantly greater in protected transects compared to exposed areas (t = 4.522, P = .001; Fig. 5). An attempt to compare height distributions of A. xanthogrammica and A. sola was made, however results were relatively inconclusive due to the limited number of transects with both species present. Only transects A and E had sufficient individuals of each species to analyze mean height of anemones statistically. Mean heights of A. xanthogrammica were significantly higher than A. sola along transect E (t = 2.851, P = .009; Fig. 6) but not significantly different along transect A (t = .864, P = .404; Fig. 7). Temporal comparisons between the abundances of each Anthopleura species along the two class transects (C and J) this year and previous years were inconclusive. The extent of sampling each year was contingent upon the height of the tide and intensity 6 of waves—in years when the tide was higher or waves were bigger, the lower portion of the transect was not assessed. This makes it difficult to compare year to year. In addition, dubious and dramatic species shifts suggested by the class’ data are likely misidentifications rather than true changes. Thermal Study Though 40 A. xanthogrammica and 40 A. sola individuals were observed in the thermal study, some of these were submerged by changing tides. Due to the overwhelming control of the ambient water temperature on the core temperature of submerged anemones, these individuals were not included in statistical analyses of the Anthopleura temperatures. Hourly comparisons of mean body temperatures showed significantly higher values for A. sola for every time measured (t-tests, Table 1; Fig. 8). Discussion Anthopleura xanthogrammica and Anthopleura sola show clearly defined spatial patterns with A. xanthogrammica primarily occupying the wave-exposed western side of the point at Hopkins Marine Station and A. sola occupying the protected eastern side of the point. These observations are consistent with previous findings that A. xanthogrammica inhabits less protected habitats and is especially abundant in surge channels, crevices, and areas which are constantly washed over by water, as compared to A. sola, which generally favors calmer pools and rock surfaces (Sagarin and Gaines 2002; Russo 1984). I expected to find a correlation between height in the intertidal and species as well, however these results were inconclusive. Due to the extreme lateral separation of species across the intertidal, there were a limited number of transects for which both 7 species were present and thus the assessment of differences in vertical distributions was inconclusive. Of the two transects analyzed for differences in mean anemone height, one suggested that A. xanthogrammica inhabited a slightly (less than 0.5 m) higher section of the intertidal. This counters the expected direction of difference yet it is relatively inconsequential since there are no replicates to support the conclusion. The clear support for a lateral separation of species and lack of data/evidence for a vertical separation of species may indicate that wave exposure plays a more dominant role in setting distributions than do vertical gradients in physical conditions. However, the design of the study may skew conclusions as transects could not pick up as much fine scale variability as might be necessary to determine height specificity. It is therefore possible that A. xanthogrammica generally prefers lower habitats, just as past research has shown (Francis 1988). Though there were not a sufficient number of A. elegantissima clones along transect lines, a rough survey of the rocks surrounding transects suggested a clear site preference of this cloning anemone. Large colonies were often observed on the sides of rock faces in protected areas but rarely seen in wave-exposed areas. This is consistent with previous research which identified A. elegantissima as confined to protected outer coast sites or moderately exposed inner coast sites in the Pacific northwest (Sebens 1983). The apparent lack of overlap in species within regions of the intertidal may be due to competitive exclusion. In discussing the limited northward extent of A. sola, Russo (1984) suggested that A. xanthogrammica might competitively exclude A. sola. These forces may be at play on a smaller scale in the intertidal off Pacific Grove as well. 8 Aggressive interactions are best established in cloning species, which compete with each other for space (Williams 1991). A. elegantissima clones responded aggressively to genetically distinct neighboring clones during repeated contact (Francis 1973). A. xanthogrammica also has acrorhagi (fighting tentacles) bearing potent nematocysts which are used in such aggressive responses (Francis 1973). Though A. xanthogrammica individuals undergo habituation and do not show aggression towards neighbors in contact with their tentacles for long periods of time, selective removal and replacement of individuals shows that A. xanthogrammica do exhibit agonistic behavior to non-neighbor anemones (Sebens 1984). It is plausible therefore, that A. xanthogrammica aggressively exclude A. sola individuals that attempt to establish themselves in exposed areas. A rough survey of the substrate and surrounding organisms indicated some differences between wave-exposed and protected sites, including a higher abundance of mussels, feather boa kelp, and barnacles in wave-exposed sites. Such differences may affect the suitable habitats of Anthopleura congeners. Sebens (1983) identified the dominance of Mytilus californianus prey as an indicator for abundant populations of A. xanthogrammica. Therefore composition of prey species or competitors within a site may also affect which Anthopleura congener dominates. The significant differences between temperatures experienced by A. xanthogrammica and A. sola during low tide suggest that temperature tolerance may be a driving force behind their intertidal distributions. The consistently lower temperature experienced by emersed A. xanthogrammica and absence of A. xanthogrammica at the warmer A. sola site imply that that A. xanthogrammica may have a lower thermal tolerance or at least a lower thermal optimum than A. sola. An analysis of anemones on 9 the North American Atlantic coast indicated a clear correlation between habitat temperature and upper lethal temperature of anemone species (Sassaman and Mangum 1970). The southern limit of species ranges in Metridium senile, Diadumene leucolena, and Haliplanella luciae correlated to lethal temperature, with the northernmost species (Metridium senile) having the lowest lethal temperature and the southernmost species (Haliplanella luciae) having the highest lethal temperature (Sassaman and Mangum 1970). Sassaman and Mangum (1970) noted that the three species had otherwise ecologically similar niches and suggested that temperature was therefore the likely constraint on species ranges. They further noted that the metabolic rates of anemones were subject to Q10 effects, thus indicating a mechanism of temperature sensitivity (Sassaman and Mangum 1970). Given the analogous restrictions on the ranges Anthopleura congeners, similar effects may dictate latitudinal distribution limits in these Pacific anemones. Furthermore, it is possible that such temperature sensitivity exists on a local scale between cooler wave-exposed areas and warmer protected areas to set distribution limits within one intertidal location as well. The relationships between temperature and algal symbionts of Anthopleura species have been studied extensively and may affect anemone distributions as well. Anthopleura congeners may have one or two species of algal symbionts—some have solely zooxanthellae, some have solely zoochlorellae, and some have both—and the relative proportion of either symbiont is closely correlated to light/temperature gradients (O’Brien and Wyttenbach 1980, Secord and Augustine 2000, McCloskey et al. 1996, Secord and Muller-Parker 2005). A study of A. xanthogrammica and A. elegantissima showed that zoochlorellae are commonly associated with the cooler temperatures at 10 higher latitudes and in the lower intertidal, while zooxanthellae are more abundant in anemones at lower latitudes or higher in the intertidal (Secord and Augustine 2000). Another study of A. xanthogrammica identified a transition from solely zoochlorellate individuals in the subtidal and low intertidal to anemones with mixed algal populations in the middle intertidal to exclusively zooxanthellate anemones in the high intertidal (O’Brien and Wyttenbach 1980). A shift from zooxanthellate to zoochlorellate A. elegantissima along a gradient from light-exposed to fully shaded environments in an intertidal cave show the same correlation (Secord and Muller-Parker 2005). The composition of algal symbionts within a host may have significant implications on the growth and reproduction of the host. Zooxanthellae respire and photosynthesize at a higher rate than zoochlorellae and translocate a substantially greater amount of carbon to their hosts (contribution of carbon to animal respiration was estimated at 48% for zooxanthellate anemones but only 9% for zoochlorellate anemones) (Alan Verde and McCloskey 1996). A study of A. elegantissima revealed that temperature increase from 13°C to 20°C caused a significant reduction in density of zoochlorellae which led to zoochlorellate anemones receiving 3.5 times less carbon at 20°C (Engebretson and Muller-Parker 1999). As zoochlorellae are more temperature sensitive, warming due to climate change will likely have significant effects on the densities of these two symbionts in their Anthopleura hosts. Given the symbionts’ different nutritional contributions to their hosts these shifts may have profound effects on the growth and reproductive abilities of anemones. Since zoochlorellae are typically associated with larger individuals in the lower intertidal (Secord and Augustine 2000), A. xanthogrammica may experience more dramatic shifts in symbiont composition. If 11 zoochlorellate A. xanthogrammica are unable to acquire zooxanthellae as they lose zoochlorellae, they may become aposymbiotic. As aposymbiotic anemones lose mass more quickly during starvation than those with symbionts (Sebens 1983), this could have profound effects on the survival of A. xanthogrammica if prey abundances decline. A. elegantissima and A. sola must cope with the environmental stresses associated with their habitats. To handle elevated sunlight exposure, they attach gravel and other debris to their body surfaces as an effective sunscreen that reduces zooxanthellae expulsion (Dykens and Shick 1984). In addition to this protection, A. elegantissima respond biochemically and behaviorally to sunlight and photosynthetically generated oxygen stress by increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in proportion to chlorophyll concentration, and by contracting and shading zooxanthellae (Dykens and Shick 1984). If anemones experience shifts in symbiont densities from less productive zoochlorellae to more productive zooxanthellae, these photodynamic stresses may increase and force anemones to invest more into enzymatic defenses, which could come at a cost to growth or reproduction. There are clear differences in the distributions of A. xanthogrammica and A. sola in the rocky intertidal at Hopkins Marine Station. A. xanthogrammica appear to prefer more wave-exposed areas while A. sola favor more protected areas. Multiple factors may influence these differences, including competitive exclusion, prey abundance, and temperature. The temperatures of emersed A. xanthogrammica individuals were significantly lower than those of emersed A. sola, suggesting that temperature may be a major factor influencing species distributions not only at wide latitudinal scales but also at local scales, such as around the point at the Hopkins Marine Station. The temperature 12 relationships of each species’ lethal thermal tolerance, metabolism, and symbiont composition will be of increasing importance as climate change warms intertidal ecosystems. Due to these effects, I suspect that future years and higher temperatures may produce an increase in the abundance of A. sola at Hopkins Marine Station and a decrease in A. xanthogrammica. This study provides a baseline against which future changes in the composition of Anthopleura congeners may be compared. 13 Acknowledgements Many thanks to my advisor, Jim Watanabe, for being extremely generous with his support, advice, and time. Thanks to Mark Denny as well for help with the temperature study. Lastly, thank you to the BIO 44Y class, and especially to the students who helped with my transects. 14 References: Alan Verde, E. and L.R. McCloskey (1996). Photosynthesis and respiration of two species of algal symbionts in the anemone Anthopleura elegantissima. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 195(2): 187-202. Barry, J.P., Baxter, C.H., Sagarin, R.D. and S.E. Gilman (1995). Climate-related, longterm faunal changes in a California rocky intertidal community. Science. 267(5198): 672-675. Crummett, L.T. and D.J. Eernisse (2007). Genetic evidence for the cryptic species pair, Lottia digitalis and Lottia austrodigitalis and microhabitat partitioning in sympatry. Marine Biology. 152(1): 1-13. Dykens, J.A. and J.M. Shick (1984). Photobiology of the symbiotic sea anemone, Anthopleura elegantissima: defenses against photodynamic effects, and seasonal photoacclimatization. Biological Bulletin. 167: 683-697. Engebretson, H.P. and G. Muller-Parker (1999). Translocation of photosynthetic carbon from two algal symbionts to the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima. Biological Bulletin. 167(1): 72-81. Francis, L. (1973). Intraspecific aggression and its effect on the distribution of Anthopleura elegantissima and some related sea anemones. Biological Bulletin. 144: 73-92. Francis, L. (1988). Cloning and aggression among sea anemones (coelenterata: actinaria) of the rocky shore. Biological Bulletin. 174: 241-253. McCloskey, L.R., Cove, T.G. and E. Alan Verde (1996). Symbiont expulsion from the anemone Anthopleura elegantissima (Brandt) (Cnidaria; Anthozoa). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 195: 173-186. O’Brien, T.L. and C.R. Wyttenbach (1980). Some Effects of Temperature on the Symbiotic Association between Zoochlorellae (Chlorophyceae) and the Sea Anemone Anthopleura xanthogrammica. Transactions of the Americal Microsopcial Society. 99(2): 221-225. Russo, A.R. (1984). 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Hydrobiologia. 216-217(1): 539-545. 16 Figures and Tables QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. Figure 1. Transects: from left to right, the first Transects A-F are the exposed transects and transects G-L are the protected transects. Transects C and J are the transects which were pre-chosen and assessed by the biology class. 17 QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. Figure 2. The site of the 40 A. xanthogrammica individuals monitored in the temperature study is denoted by the blue square. The site of the 40 A. sola individuals is denoted by the red square. 18 Density of Anemones by Species Mean # of Anemones per sq. m 8 7 6 5 A. xanthogrammica A. sola 4 3 2 1 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L Transect Figure 3. Density of anemones by species along each transect with 95% confidence bars, from west to east (A to L), with transects A to F representing exposed sites and G to L representing protected sites. Abundance of A. Mean # of Anemones per sq. m 5 4 3 2 1 0 exposed protected -1 Site Figure 4. Mean abundance of Anthopleura xanthogrammica in exposed sites versus protected sites with 95% confidence interval bars. A t-test confirms significant differences between exposed and protected sites (t = 2.933; P = .015). 19 Abundance of A. 7 Mean # of Anemones per sq. m 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 exposed protected -1 Site Figure 5. Mean abundance of Anthopleura sola in exposed sites versus protected sites with 95% confidence interval bars. A t-test confirms significant differences between exposed and protected sites (t = 4.522; P = .001). Vertical Distribution of Anemones 3 2.5 Height (m) 2 A. xanthogrammica A. sola 1.5 1 0.5 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 Abundance Figure 6. Height distributions of A. xanthogrammica and A. sola individuals along transect A. A t-test of the mean height of A. xanthogrammica individuals versus A. sola 20 individuals suggests that there is not a significant difference in the vertical distribution of the two species (t = .864; P = .404). Vertical Distribution of Anemones 1.4 1.2 Height (m) 1 0.8 A. xanthogrammica A. sola 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Abundance Figure 7. Height distributions of A. xanthogrammica and A. sola individuals along transect E. A t-test of the mean height of A. xanthogrammica individuals versus A. sola individuals suggests a significant difference in the vertical distribution of the two species (t = 2.851; P = .009). Mean Temperature of Emersed Anemones Temperature (degrees C) 30 25 20 A. xanthogrammica A. sola 15 10 5 0 7am 8am 9am 10am Time 21 11am 12pm 1pm Figure 8. Mean temperature of emersed anemones at each hour of measurement are shown with 95% confidence interval bars. Table 1 presents the relevant values of t-tests for differences between A. xanthogrammica and A. sola temperatures at each hour. Table 1. Results of t-tests comparing the average temperature of emersed A. xanthogrammica individuals and emersed A. sola individuals at each hour of the study show that differences are significant at each time of measurement. Time t-value P-value 7am 10.165 7.355x10-14 8am 6.798 3.695x10-9 9am 7.621 7.791x10-11 10am 7.803 3.578x10-11 11am 5.239 1.538x10-6 12pm 8.389 5.330x10-12 1pm 6.598 1.593x10-8 22