©2020 Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office.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.
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).
Bruno, J. (2024) Results from mesocosm experiments measuring how temperature affects predation rates by whelks on barnacles. Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). (Version 1) Version Date 2024-05-17 [if applicable, indicate subset used]. doi:10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.894148.1 [access date]
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