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Title: Wave energy and intertidal productivity

Abstract

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.

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama
OSTI Identifier:
6128805
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 84:5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER; COASTAL REGIONS; PRODUCTIVITY; WATER WAVES; WAVE POWER; AQUATIC ORGANISMS; BRITISH COLUMBIA; PACIFIC OCEAN; PLANTS; TIDE; WASHINGTON; CANADA; ENERGY SOURCES; FEDERAL REGION X; GRAVITY WAVES; NORTH AMERICA; POWER; RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES; SEAS; SURFACE WATERS; USA; 520100* - Environment, Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989); 160500 - Tidal & Wave Power- Environmental Aspects

Citation Formats

Leigh, Jr, E G, Paine, R T, Quinn, J F, and Suchanek, T H. Wave energy and intertidal productivity. United States: N. p., 1987. Web. doi:10.1073/pnas.84.5.1314.
Leigh, Jr, E G, Paine, R T, Quinn, J F, & Suchanek, T H. Wave energy and intertidal productivity. United States. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.84.5.1314
Leigh, Jr, E G, Paine, R T, Quinn, J F, and Suchanek, T H. 1987. "Wave energy and intertidal productivity". United States. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.84.5.1314.
@article{osti_6128805,
title = {Wave energy and intertidal productivity},
author = {Leigh, Jr, E G and Paine, R T and Quinn, J F and Suchanek, T H},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.84.5.1314},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6128805}, journal = {Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 84:5,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1987},
month = {Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1987}
}