Analysing the links between microclimate, individual performance and climate-driven range shifts in intertidal ectotherms

确定气候变化对自然系统的影响是21世纪最重要的全球研究挑战之一。来自一系列热源的海洋物种向极地范围的转移发生在将英国一分为二的北方和卢西塔尼亚水域之间的生物地理过渡区。潮间带群落存在于陆地和海洋环境之间的过渡地带，并暴露于其热环境的大的日潮汐波动中。在接近其生物地理范围极限的种群中，许多本地潮间带物种存在于或接近热耐受极限，因此受到持续气候变化的强烈影响。来自卢西塔尼亚的生态工程物种的领先范围边缘，温暖的水域起源正在英国海岸线周围扩张，以应对变暖的海洋气候。该项目将研究暴露在岩石海岸不断变化的小气候下的个体生物的热性能如何随着全球气候变化而变化。

Determining impacts of climate change on natural systems is one of the most important global research challenges for the 21st century. Poleward range shifts of marine species from a range of thermal origins are occurring in the biogeographic transition zone between boreal and Lusitanian waters that bisect the UK. Intertidal communities exist within a transition zone between terrestrial and marine environments, and are exposed to a large, diurnal tidal fluctuation of their thermal environment. Many native intertidal species within populations close to their biogeographic range limits are existing at, or close to thermal tolerance limits, and are therefore being strongly impacted by continuing climate change. The leading range edges of ecological engineer species from Lusitanian, warmer water origins are expanding around the coastline of the UK in response to the warming marine climate. This project will investigate how the thermal performances of individual organisms, exposed to changing microclimate on the rocky shore scale up to biogeographic-scale range shifts in response to global climate change.