Haliotis rufescens (Red Abalone)
Credit:. Steve Lonhart, NOAA MBNMS
about the species
Abalone are herbivorous marine gastropods. The red abalone is the largest and longest-lived abalone species, distributed in North America from central Oregon to Baja California. They live in the rocky intertidal zone and eat kelp. Red abalone are an iconic species of coastal California. They were a dietary staple of Native coastal Californians for centuries, have been prized by commercial and recreational divers, and they support a fledgling aquaculture industry.
why species was selected
Formerly widespread and abundant red abalone have recently been declining, impacted by disease and climate change. A crucial question is whether current populations of red abalone contain genetic variation that may be adaptive in future ocean conditions. We predict that regions of strong coastal upwelling may be enriched for genetic types that are resilient to ocean acidification.
