Wave energy and intertidal productivity

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.84.5.1314· OSTI ID:6128805

Leigh, Jr, E G; Paine, R T; Quinn, J F; Suchanek, T H

In the northern Pacific, intertidal zones of the most wave-beaten shores receive more energy from breaking waves than from the sun. Despite severe mortality from winter storms, communities at some wave-beaten sites produce an extraordinary quantity of dry matter per unit area of shore per year. At wave-beaten sites of Tatoosh Island, WA, sea palms, Postelsia palmaeformis, can produce > 10 kg of dry matter, or 1.5 x 10/sup 8/ J, per m/sup 2/ in a good year. Extraordinarily productive organisms such as Postelsia are restricted to wave-beaten sites. Intertidal organisms cannot transform wave energy into chemical energy, as photosynthetic plants transform solar energy, nor can intertidal organisms harness wave energy. Nonetheless, wave energy enhances the productivity of intertidal organisms. On exposed shores, waves increase the capacity of resident algae to acquire nutrients and use sunlight, augment the competitive ability of productive organism, and protect intertidal residents by knocking away their enemies or preventing them from feeding.

• Research Organization: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama
• OSTI ID: 6128805
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) Vol. 84:5; ISSN PNASA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER
160500 -- Tidal & Wave Power-- Environmental Aspects
520100* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BRITISH COLUMBIA
CANADA
COASTAL REGIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION X
GRAVITY WAVES
NORTH AMERICA
PACIFIC OCEAN
PLANTS
POWER
PRODUCTIVITY
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
TIDE
USA
WASHINGTON
WATER WAVES
WAVE POWER