Dataset: Whelk-Barnacle Predation Experiments

Name: Results from mesocosm experiments measuring how temperature affects predation rates by whelks on barnacles
Published: 2023-04-18
Keywords: Galapagos, predation, warming, oceans

View Data: Data not available yet

Cite This Dataset

Spatial Extent: N:-0.67136 E:-89.2651 S:-0.67136 W:-89.2651

Temporal Extent: 2021-07-22 - 2021-08-13

Project:

The Role of Temperature in Regulating Herbivory and Algal Biomass in Upwelling Systems (Temperature and Herbivory)

Principal Investigator:

John Bruno (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, UNC-Chapel Hill)

BCO-DMO Data Manager:

Shannon Rauch (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI BCO-DMO)

Version:

Version Date:

2023-04-18

Restricted:

Validated:

Current State:

Data not available

Results from mesocosm experiments measuring how temperature affects predation rates by whelks on barnacles

Abstract:

These data contain results from mesocosm experiments measuring how temperature affects predation rates by whelks on barnacles. These results include barnacles eaten and whelk movements under warm and cold conditions. The experiments were done in the Galapagos Science Center in San Cristobal, Galapagos. Estimates of how temperature modifies activity and predation rates will help understand and predict changes in marine communities under future climate change scenarios.

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Methods & Sampling

Trials were conducted to test the hypothesis that carnivory increases with temperature. Eight aquariums were used as "cold treatment" (16 degrees Celsius) and the remaining as "warm treatment" (26 degrees Celsius). Each aquarium was divided in two using a plastic mesh. Randomly selected whelk (12 to 16 centimeters in length) were put in one half of the aquarium. Four to seven barnacles were previously glued to a small rock using epoxy (Splash zone compound A788 HG) and put in both sides of the aquarium. Each day the mesocosm room was visited two times (at 7:30 am and 7:30 pm) to assess predator position in each tank and to count the number of barnacles consumed. This experiment ran for 20 days.

Experiments were conducted in the Galapagos Science Center on San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos Archipelago. Whelks and barnacles were collected in La Barcaza, a rocky reef located on the North of the Island (coordinates: -0.67136 N, -89.2651E).

Data Processing Description

BCO-DMO Processing:
- converted the date-time fields to ISO 8601 format.

More Information about this dataset

Funding Sources

Funding Source	Award Number
NSF Division of Ocean Sciences	OCE-1737071

Deployments

None available yet

Instruments

Aquarium

Supplied Name: Aquariums

Supplied Description:

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Aquarium

Generic Description:

Aquarium - a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept

Parameters

Date and time formats are described in python strftime() syntax.

Supplied Name	Supplied description	Supplied Units	Standard Name
Day_of_Week	Day of the week	unitless	day_of_week
ISO_DateTime	Date and time when aquarium was observed in ISO 8601 format Format: %Y-%m-%dT%H:%M	unitless	date
Aquarium	Aquarium ID number	unitless	tank
Treatment	Description of the treatment (Cold, Warm, Extra, or NA)	unitless	treatment
Temperature	Temperature of the aquarium	degrees Celsius	temp
Position_of_Whelk	Description of the position of the whelk in the aquarium (Front, Back, AF(L), or NA)	unitless	sample_descrip
WhelkPosition	Description of the position of the whelk in the aquarium: AF = Attached to the floor; AFG = Attached front glass; ABG = Attached backglass; ARG = Attached right glass; ALG = Attached left glass; ABC = Attached barnacle cluster; ASG = Attached sideglass; NA = Aquariums that did not have a treatment assigned (i.e. aquariums with extra whelks or barnacles, aquariums where the whelk died)	unitless	sample_descrip
DeadControl	Number of dead barnacle in control treatment	unitless	count
DeadPrey	Number of dead barnacle dead in predation treatment but without evidence of predation	unitless	count
PreyEaten	Number of barnacle eaten (evidence of predation)	unitless	count
Note	Notes or comments	unitless	comment

Database

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Dataset: Whelk-Barnacle Predation Experiments