Keep exploring and learning at our Science Night events! Every 2^nd Wednesday (except December) scientists, naturalists, and esteemed experts explore a range of topics regarding natural sciences and our environment.

TROPICAL ROCKY INTERTIDAL COMMUNITIES
COSTA RICAN INTERTIDAL COMMUNITIES AND THEIR 
DIFFERENCES TO CALIFORNIA
 
Rocky intertidal ecosystems in temperate regions, like California, are incredibly diverse habitats with a high abundance/biomass of macroflora and macrofauna. Conversely, tropical rocky intertidal shores have often been described as bare rock dominated, consisting of low biotic abundance. Our community composition studies at 35 rocky intertidal sites in Costa Rica (5 Caribbean, 30 Pacific) support this pattern. While macroalgae and macroinvertebrates were present, particularly in the low zone, they were often small in size. The abiotic and biotic drivers of community composition in tropical rocky intertidal systems have been understudied, and a better understanding of these systems will help us prepare for changes in our local environment. 
 
Author: B. Claire Arre
 
Claire is the Education Coordinator for Laguna Ocean Foundation. Claire graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a degree in Marine Biology and during her studies she spent a semester doing algae research at the Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies on Catalina Island. She also is an AAUS Scientific SCUBA diver with over 50 logged dives in Southern California. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Biology from Cal Poly Pomona with her research concentrating on tropical rocky intertidal ecosystems. Her passion for tidepools and Southern California ecosystems has been proven by her dedication to both outreach and education through Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and Laguna Ocean Foundation, but also her ongoing monitoring through the Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Claire has worked both as a Biology and Ecology teacher and passion lies in inspiring people to become ocean stewards. 

Dana Point Community Center

6:30PM

34052 Del Obispo St, Dana Point, CA 92629 

For any questions, please contact DPnaturalresources@danapoint.org or (949) 248-3527.

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