Temperature
From the information presented in the graphs, there is a trend of decreasing teperatures on Race Rocks. This can also have dire consequences on the organisms that call the island home as they need constant temperature to survive. Many species are sensitive to temperatures just a few degrees higher or lower than those they usually experience. Race Rocks lies on the Pacific Coast of Canada, where temperatures remain warm enough in the winter to allow plants to keep their green leaves. Terrestrial plants that grow on the island tend to grow within a few meters of the seashore, usually above the spray zone. Being surrounded by ocean, which never goes below 7 degrees celcius in the winter, island ecosystems such as Race Rocks often avoid the extremes of temperature and allows certain plants to continue to grow. If the decreasing temperature trend continues, many of these plants will not be able to survive, bringing a loack of biodiversity to the island. One of these plants is Tracy's mistmaiden.
http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/eco/taxalab/genevievea.htm
Salinity
The graph on salinity shows that the salinity over time has remained relatively constant. This effect is advantageous for organisms that require a constant salinity. Level reaching up to 100 parts per thousand have been recorded on the island. Projections for the future show that salinity may decrease due to climate change. Many marine organisms would have a difficult time adjusting to the change to less saline waters which they are adapted to deal with. One of which is bull kelp which would lose a lot of its dissolved salts to the less saline oceans.
http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/eco/taxalab/bio2002/nereocystisl.htm
A final note on the effects of climate change. Rising sea levels may not seem like a threat because of the high elevation of all our buildings, however one of the most catastrophic effects of rising sea levels is expected to be the destruction of marshlands, low lying, partially underwater land that plays a vital role in filtering out pollutianst and keeping water clean. Though it may not seem like it, we have land like this at the college. The swampy ground dividing us from the marina, and found around the lagoon both fall under the definition of marshland, and would be destroyed by rising tides, increasing the ammount of polutants in the bay, and negativily effecting marine life. To see the marshland from above, follow the following link. While it doesn't appear "swampy" in this picture, both the upper fingers of the bay are above water for a large portion of the year, and play a vital role while they are
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