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Influence of recruitment and temperature on distribution of intertidal barnacles in the English Channel.

Influence of recruitment and temperature on distribution of intertidal barnacles in the English Channel.
Influence of recruitment and temperature on distribution of intertidal barnacles in the English Channel.
Many warm-water (Lusitanian) species reach their limits in the central English Channel, failing to penetrate
to the North Sea. We re-surveyed the eastern limits of the Lusitanian intertidal barnacles Chthamalus montagui
and C. stellatus, from 1994 to 2004, a decade of exceptionally high sea temperatures, and found range extensions
on both sides of the Channel compared to the 1950s and 1970s. Annual recruitment of Chthamalus on the
English coast was monitored. There was a consistent gradient of low recruitment to the east of Portland Bill,
with significant reductions coinciding with prominent headlands. Highest recruitment occurred during the
warmest years. Cluster analysis showed a high degree of similarity of annual recruitment within coastal cells
suggesting that local processes are also important. In 1999 we compared recruitment in the other common
intertidal barnacles, the boreal Semibalanus balanoides and the non-native Elminius modestus, with Chthamalus spp.
All species showed low recruitment between Selsey Bill and Portland Bill, suggesting habitat limitations and/or
hydrographic mechanisms. Annual recruitment of Chthamalus at existing limits on the Isle of Wight was positively
correlated with the number of days of westerly and south-westerly winds during the summer, coinciding
with the pelagic larval phase. A ‘pulse’ of high Chthamalus recruitment on the Isle of Wight, measured during
the warm summer of 2000, reversed population decline. Only a higher frequency of such pulses will maintain
populations at existing limits and increase the rate of range extension towards the North Sea. Such extension
will be limited by lack of hard substrata, but proliferation of coastal defence schemes in recent years is increasing
suitable habitat for barnacles.
barnacle, range extension, English Channel, climate change
0025-3154
487-499
Herbert, R.J.H.
ddb27a2d-51df-4701-805f-cea24f4aa965
Southward, A.J.
7e2c2f90-5b45-40aa-9789-cada57191e3f
Sheader, M.
fc6fc729-69bd-460d-846f-e2ba1c8e1b6b
Hawkins, S.J.
758fe1c1-30cd-4ed1-bb65-2471dc7c11fa
Herbert, R.J.H.
ddb27a2d-51df-4701-805f-cea24f4aa965
Southward, A.J.
7e2c2f90-5b45-40aa-9789-cada57191e3f
Sheader, M.
fc6fc729-69bd-460d-846f-e2ba1c8e1b6b
Hawkins, S.J.
758fe1c1-30cd-4ed1-bb65-2471dc7c11fa

Herbert, R.J.H., Southward, A.J., Sheader, M. and Hawkins, S.J. (2007) Influence of recruitment and temperature on distribution of intertidal barnacles in the English Channel. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 87, 487-499. (doi:10.1017/S--25315407052745).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Many warm-water (Lusitanian) species reach their limits in the central English Channel, failing to penetrate
to the North Sea. We re-surveyed the eastern limits of the Lusitanian intertidal barnacles Chthamalus montagui
and C. stellatus, from 1994 to 2004, a decade of exceptionally high sea temperatures, and found range extensions
on both sides of the Channel compared to the 1950s and 1970s. Annual recruitment of Chthamalus on the
English coast was monitored. There was a consistent gradient of low recruitment to the east of Portland Bill,
with significant reductions coinciding with prominent headlands. Highest recruitment occurred during the
warmest years. Cluster analysis showed a high degree of similarity of annual recruitment within coastal cells
suggesting that local processes are also important. In 1999 we compared recruitment in the other common
intertidal barnacles, the boreal Semibalanus balanoides and the non-native Elminius modestus, with Chthamalus spp.
All species showed low recruitment between Selsey Bill and Portland Bill, suggesting habitat limitations and/or
hydrographic mechanisms. Annual recruitment of Chthamalus at existing limits on the Isle of Wight was positively
correlated with the number of days of westerly and south-westerly winds during the summer, coinciding
with the pelagic larval phase. A ‘pulse’ of high Chthamalus recruitment on the Isle of Wight, measured during
the warm summer of 2000, reversed population decline. Only a higher frequency of such pulses will maintain
populations at existing limits and increase the rate of range extension towards the North Sea. Such extension
will be limited by lack of hard substrata, but proliferation of coastal defence schemes in recent years is increasing
suitable habitat for barnacles.

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Submitted date: 5 December 2005
Published date: 2007
Keywords: barnacle, range extension, English Channel, climate change

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Local EPrints ID: 54615
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/54615
ISSN: 0025-3154
PURE UUID: 50e6d841-1f05-4f9a-a2bc-6042caf76d48

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Date deposited: 17 Jul 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 10:49

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Contributors

Author: R.J.H. Herbert
Author: A.J. Southward
Author: M. Sheader
Author: S.J. Hawkins

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