The influence of intertidal location and temperature on the metabolic cost of emersion in Pisaster ochraceus

►Sea stars remained mainly in the low intertidal or heat-protected areas at low tide. ►Body temperature of sea stars increased along the vertical intertidal gradient. ►Oxygen consumption increased with temperature in both air and water. ►Aquatic oxygen consumption was about 2 × higher than aerial oxygen consumption. ►Water temperature affected bioenergetics more than microhabitat choice.