The focus of this investigation is to record, process and interpret the zonation of a community of species on the rocky shore of Te Raekaihou Point. The site data was collected from the rocky shore at Te Raekaihou Point, and my chosen species are the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle (Austrolittorina antipodum), and the Brown-Barnacles (Chamaesipho brunnea).
The community pattern found in the rocky shore is zonation. Zonation is the division of plants and animals into distinct horizontal bands, or ‘zones’. The data collected shows zonation of the plant and animal species’, where the mature individuals of the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle species (Austrolittorina antipodum) live mainly in the high-tide zone (1.2m-0.2m above low water) and the Brown-Barnacles …show more content…
A behavioural adaptation of the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle is its instinct to hide in the crevices and cracks of the rocky shore. This is to avoid predators and prevent itself from being eaten. Another behavioural adaptation of the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle are the organisms’ instinct to cluster together. This increases local humidity, decreasing evaporation and helping the organisms survive the desiccation that occurs at low-tide. A physiological adaptation of the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle is its ability to produce heat shock proteins. These proteins are created during times of thermal stress and they help to maintain metabolic functions in the organism by protecting enzymes from the heat. The Blue-Banded-Periwinkle evolved these proteins to survive the extreme heat of the high-tide zone. Another physiological adaptation of the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle is its ability to secrete watery mucus, in order to form a protective layer around their shell opening, to protect them from aerial exposure. Another physiological adaptation of the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle is its ability to survive up to 70% water loss. Along with its ability to then rehydrate very quickly, this helps the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle to survive the desiccation of their high-tide habitat. A structural adaptation of the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle are its gills, that are adapted to extract oxygen from the air at low-tide times …show more content…
A structural adaptation of the Brown-Barnacle is the ability of crowded organisms on the shore to become columnar. This conserves space, which is a highly contested resource. Another structural adaptation of the Brown-Barnacle is their waterproof cuticle that provides an effective barrier to water and salt. This cuticle also provides protection against evaporation and water loss that occurs due to osmosis. Another structural adaptation of the Brown-Barnacle is their calcareous exoskeleton which is strong, and cements them to the rocks. This helps them avoid being broken into or dislodged by predators. Another structural adaptation of the Brown-Barnacle is their small size, which makes them a bad meal for predators. This means that they are less likely to be exploited as prey, and this technique is called size prey refuge. Another structural adaptation of the Brown-Barnacle is their light-coloured shells which reflect light, reducing heat absorption and temperature increase in order to survive the desiccation that they are exposed to during low-tide. A behavioural adaptation of the Brown-Barnacle is their ability to trap water in their shell to use for cooling, without dehydration, and oxygen in order to continue respiration when submerged. A physiological adaptation of the Brown-Barnacle is their ability to reduce their metabolic rate during exposure to conserve energy
The community pattern found in the rocky shore is zonation. Zonation is the division of plants and animals into distinct horizontal bands, or ‘zones’. The data collected shows zonation of the plant and animal species’, where the mature individuals of the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle species (Austrolittorina antipodum) live mainly in the high-tide zone (1.2m-0.2m above low water) and the Brown-Barnacles …show more content…
A behavioural adaptation of the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle is its instinct to hide in the crevices and cracks of the rocky shore. This is to avoid predators and prevent itself from being eaten. Another behavioural adaptation of the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle are the organisms’ instinct to cluster together. This increases local humidity, decreasing evaporation and helping the organisms survive the desiccation that occurs at low-tide. A physiological adaptation of the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle is its ability to produce heat shock proteins. These proteins are created during times of thermal stress and they help to maintain metabolic functions in the organism by protecting enzymes from the heat. The Blue-Banded-Periwinkle evolved these proteins to survive the extreme heat of the high-tide zone. Another physiological adaptation of the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle is its ability to secrete watery mucus, in order to form a protective layer around their shell opening, to protect them from aerial exposure. Another physiological adaptation of the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle is its ability to survive up to 70% water loss. Along with its ability to then rehydrate very quickly, this helps the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle to survive the desiccation of their high-tide habitat. A structural adaptation of the Blue-Banded-Periwinkle are its gills, that are adapted to extract oxygen from the air at low-tide times …show more content…
A structural adaptation of the Brown-Barnacle is the ability of crowded organisms on the shore to become columnar. This conserves space, which is a highly contested resource. Another structural adaptation of the Brown-Barnacle is their waterproof cuticle that provides an effective barrier to water and salt. This cuticle also provides protection against evaporation and water loss that occurs due to osmosis. Another structural adaptation of the Brown-Barnacle is their calcareous exoskeleton which is strong, and cements them to the rocks. This helps them avoid being broken into or dislodged by predators. Another structural adaptation of the Brown-Barnacle is their small size, which makes them a bad meal for predators. This means that they are less likely to be exploited as prey, and this technique is called size prey refuge. Another structural adaptation of the Brown-Barnacle is their light-coloured shells which reflect light, reducing heat absorption and temperature increase in order to survive the desiccation that they are exposed to during low-tide. A behavioural adaptation of the Brown-Barnacle is their ability to trap water in their shell to use for cooling, without dehydration, and oxygen in order to continue respiration when submerged. A physiological adaptation of the Brown-Barnacle is their ability to reduce their metabolic rate during exposure to conserve energy