Temperature Logging

Global sea temperatures are rising.

The mixing of cold and warm water currents off the Berwickshire coast result in the unique and hugely diverse ecosystems being present within the Marine Reserve. 

Many species that live here are reliant on the sea remaining a specific temperature in order to survive, such as the Arctic Wolffish and the Devonshire Cup Coral. Even slight changes to the norm may result in these iconic species disappearing from these waters.

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To document temperature changes, we have deployed a number of temperature loggers throughout the Reserve. Working with the local inshore fishers we have attached a few of the loggers to the inside of fishing creels, allowing us to make links between changes in the number of crabs and lobsters caught and changes in temperature. ​

To add further data to that collected by the loggers, we are asking divers to collect temperature data for us using specific dive computers provided by us. You can read all about this project here and please do contact us if it sounds like something you would like to get involved with.

As well as offshore temperature logging, we have been collecting data from the rocky shore using a new innovative piece of technology – Robo-Limpets! Robo-Limpets provide temperature data that mimics the internal body temperature experienced by intertidal molluscs (limpets, marine snails, mussels etc). We have placed a Robo-Limpet alongside a logger recording actual air and seawater temperature in three rocky shore habitats: in a pool (underwater), on a patch of open rock (in the sunlight) and on an under hang (in the shade).

As the tide goes out, many of the molluscs on the rocky shore are exposed to the elements, meaning they must be adapted to survive in long periods of time out of the water. During times of exposure, they also must cope with high temperatures. As global temperature rise, the effect this is having on intertidal animals could be catastrophic, especially if the increase is occurring quicker than the animals are able to adapt.

The Robo-Limpet project is led by Newcastle University, and covers a large stretch of the East Coast of the UK. We have recently secured funding from Nature.Scot to purchase more Robo-Limpets which we will be deploying across the Reserve. We will be incorporating this with an ambitious citizen science project to further investigate the effect temperature is having on our rocky shore communities. Keep an eye on our website for details on this exciting project!