Mapping physiology: biophysical mechanisms define scales of climate change impacts
The rocky intertidal zone is a highly dynamic and thermally variable ecosystem, where the
combined influences of solar radiation, air temperature and topography can lead to
differences greater than 15° C over the scale of centimetres during aerial exposure at low
tide. For most intertidal organisms this small-scale heterogeneity in microclimates can have
enormous influences on survival and physiological performance. However, the potential
ecological importance of environmental heterogeneity in determining ecological responses …
combined influences of solar radiation, air temperature and topography can lead to
differences greater than 15° C over the scale of centimetres during aerial exposure at low
tide. For most intertidal organisms this small-scale heterogeneity in microclimates can have
enormous influences on survival and physiological performance. However, the potential
ecological importance of environmental heterogeneity in determining ecological responses …