Clinocardium nuttallii from Yaquina Bay, Oregon, were found to
harbor an algal symbiont in the siphon, mantle and occasionally
the foot tissues. Approximately 35 percent of the population in the
study area was infected to some degree with the alga; however, no
cockles under two years of age were infected....
The term "interaction" in evolutionary biology and ecology
describes the relationships among variables in two classes of causal
models. In the first, "interaction" refers to the influence of a
single putatively causal variable on a variable of interest. In the
second class of models, the term applies when a third...
Callistoma costatum and Tegula funebralis, marine intertidal
snails from low and high littoral zones respectively, were exposed to
air for two, six and twelve hour periods, during which time their
oxygen consumption rates were measured. The animals were then
immersed in sea water and their respiration rates recorded for a...
Careful analysis and thoughtful synthesis will be necessary for expanding the envelope of
ecological understanding. This work is my attempt at communicating both of these, in relation
to three questions about our understanding of the structure and dynamics of biological diversity.
These questions focus on a) advancing our understanding of...
Aspects of the life history and ecology of the intertidal turf-forming
alga Rhodomela larix (Turner) C. Agardh were examined over a two
year period at several sites on the Oregon coast. Rhodomela occurred
over a broad tidal range and exhibited different growth and morphology
characteristics with respect to tidal height....
The influence of the physical environment on organisms has long been a subject of ecological research. But, the complex drivers of environmental variation, and the multiple scales at which this can occur, make studying this topic a difficult challenge. In rocky intertidal habitats, oceanographic- and climate-scale variability influence benthic communities...
This dissertation focuses on science relevant to the design and implementation of marine reserves. The chapters explore a range of topics related to among-site variation in population, community, and ecosystem dynamics. My results demonstrate the value and feasibility of integrating this knowledge into more comprehensive conservation and management approaches. While...
Human actions are pushing natural systems into states that have no historical precedent. In response, empirical and theoretical researchers are increasingly focused on developing ways to predict the responses of ecological systems to change. However, significant knowledge gaps remain, often leading to “ecological surprises” where observed impacts of global change...
The feeding ecology of a common temperate mesoherbivore, the oligophagous sea slug Placida dendritica (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia: Ascoglossa), was examined from April 1985 to June 1989. Along the central coast of Oregon, Placida consumed three host species: the low intertidal green algae Codium setchellii, C. fragile, and Bryopsis corticulans. Individual slugs...