Data from: Structural traits dictate abiotic stress amelioration by intertidal oysters

1.Autogenic ecosystem engineers often provide cool microhabitats which are used by associated organisms to reduce thermal extremes. The value of such habitats is, however, dependant on key structural traits of the ecosystem engineer, and the intensity and duration of thermal exposure. 2.Using an experimental mesocosm that mimicked the rocky intertidal environment, we assessed how the spatial configuration of the habitat formed by an autogenic ecosystem engineer, the oyster, influences its capacity to mitigate heat stress experienced by invertebrates during simulated emersion periods on tropical, Hong Kong rocky shores. 3.At the average temperature experienced during summer low tides, oyster habitat ameliorated environmental and organismal temperatures, irrespective of the structural configuration of the oyster bed. As temperatures increased, however, vertically orientated oysters provided microclimates that facilitated cooler invertebrate body temperatures than horizontal beds, which no longer conferred any associational benefit as compared to bare rock surfaces. 4.In the absence of oysters, physiological indicators of stress to associated organisms (i.e. heart rate and osmolality) increased with the intensity and duration of exposure to high temperatures. Such effects were, however, mitigated by association with vertical but not horizontal oyster configurations. In contrast, the osmolality of the oysters was not related to temperature, suggesting they remained in a state of metabolic quiescence throughout emersion. 5.Structural traits such as the spatial configuration of ecosystem engineers are, therefore, critical to their effectiveness in environmental amelioration. As such, variations in the morphological traits of ecosystem engineers, which have important implications for their ecological role, need to be incorporated into conservation and restoration projects aimed at climate change adaptation. Usage Notes Intertidal mesocosm data_ McAfee et al.Raw data for temperature changes and biological responses in an intertidal mesocosm setting.McAfee et al. FE-2018-00027_Dryad data storage.xlsx

1. 自源性生态系统工程师（autogenic ecosystem engineers）通常会提供凉爽的微生境，供关联生物利用以缓解极端热胁迫。然而这类生境的价值，取决于该生态系统工程师的关键结构性状，以及热暴露的强度与持续时长。
2. 本研究依托模拟潮间带岩滩环境的实验中型生态系统（mesocosm），以香港热带岩滩的模拟退潮时段为研究场景，探究了由自源性生态系统工程师——牡蛎（oyster）构建的生境空间配置，对减轻无脊椎动物所受热胁迫能力的影响。
3. 在夏季低潮期的平均温度条件下，无论牡蛎床的结构配置如何，其生境均能改善环境与生物体的温度。但随着温度升高，垂直排布的牡蛎床所能营造的微气候，能让无脊椎动物的体温低于水平排布的牡蛎床；而水平排布的牡蛎床相较裸露岩面，已不再能为关联生物提供任何庇护益处。
4. 在无牡蛎的情况下，关联生物的生理应激指标（即心率与渗透压）会随高温暴露的强度与持续时长增加而上升。但这类效应可通过与垂直排布的牡蛎床共生得到缓解，水平排布的牡蛎床则无此效果。与之相反，牡蛎自身的渗透压与温度并无关联，这表明它们在整个退潮时段均处于代谢静息状态。
5. 因此，生态系统工程师的空间配置这类结构性状，对其改善环境的效能至关重要。据此，生态系统工程师的形态性状变异及其对生态功能的重要影响，需被纳入旨在适应气候变化的保护与修复工程中。
使用说明：潮间带中型生态系统数据集——McAfee等。该数据集包含潮间带中型生态系统场景下的温度变化与生物响应原始数据，存储于文件McAfee et al. FE-2018-00027_Dryad数据存储.xlsx。