Dataset extent

Seawater temperature data from a subtidal habitat in Elands Bay, 1 to 31 October 2023

To better understand the physiological effects of climate change and ocean acidification on marine organisms, information on the environmental conditions experienced in their natural habitats is required. Data from long-term monitoring studies capture in situ variability of environmental parameters that are used to relate experimental findings with field conditions. Elands Bay on the west coast of South Africa is a key location for such research and monitoring. It is a popular location for West Coast rock lobster fishing and therefore an important sentinel site for a commercial fishery species and the benthic communities upon which it depends. Low pH conditions exist along the west coast due to effects of upwelling, while cold-bottom waters in Elands Bay often result in low oxygen events responsible for mass walkouts of rock lobster. Additional exposure to extreme stressors associated with climate change can exacerbate impacts on their physiological processes. For example, acute thermal stress experienced during a marine heatwave may cause a rapid deterioration of cellular processes and performances beyond tolerance limits, affecting survival, growth and development. In South Africa, occurrences of marine heatwaves are increasing all along the coastline, and occur on average at least once a year. Data on temperature extremes are therefore important to design experiments and calculate thermal windows. We initiated long-term monitoring of inshore environmental parameters in Elands Bay by deploying temperature loggers in representative habitat types: intertidal rock pools varying in surface area, volume and position along the shore, sun-exposed habitats, and subtidal habitats. The subtidal logger is positioned at an overhang in the same vicinity of the rockpools and housed in a mooring block. Here we present the cleaned up version of temperature measurements from the subtidal habitat from 1 to 31 October 2023.

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Additional Info

Field Value
Last Updated September 23, 2024, 08:50 (UTC)
Created September 23, 2024, 08:50 (UTC)
Language
contactInfo contact details: email: thaupt@dffe.gov.za
downloadURL https://repository.ocean.gov.za/index.php/s/LFo8AX9zN5ZxMmQ
harvest_object_id bbdd251a-7808-4a2d-a952-24c4543c2d64
harvest_source_id c880098e-385a-4d72-80f0-2f1d6603b53b
harvest_source_title MIMS
individualName Tanya Haupt
organizationName Oceans and Coastal Research, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE);
positionName role: Production Scientist;
role originator
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xmax 18.32978
xmin 18.32978
ymax -32.31493
ymin -32.31493