Estuary intertidal regions are interesting environments uniquely impacted by warming of both the air and the sea. During daytime low tides uncovered sediment is heated by the sun. Incoming shallow water flowing over this hot sand or mud gets warmed to bathwater temperatures.
Dr. Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher at Ōmokoroa estuary Photo: RNZ / Claire Concannon
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Therefore, combinations of land and ocean heatwaves, coupled with low tides in the middle of the day when the sun is at its hottest, lead to extreme temperature events in these environments. These are exactly what University of Auckland researcher Dr. Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher wants to capture so she can understand the kinds of stresses that cockles that live in the sediments are experiencing.
Claire joins Rebecca and her collaborator Professor Conrad Pilditch of the University of Waikato to learn more about the cockles, and how Rebecca hopes that this monitoring will help.
Rebecca’s work is funded by a 2020 Marsden fund.
