Global ecosystem typology

Alternative site for the Global ecosystem typology with additional information for ecosystem profiles and indicative maps.

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MT1.1 Rocky Shorelines

Biome: MT1. Shorelines biome

Contributors:
(texts)

Waves, tides and a gradient of exposure drive the structure and function of these productive intertidal ecosystems found mostly on high energy coasts. The biota includes filter feeders like barnacles, mussels and sea squirts which compete for limited space. Grazers like limpets and urchins consume small sessile algae, while predators such as crabs, fish and birds consume a wide range of prey. Organisms use microhabitats during low tide (e.g. rockpools, crevices) or have adaptations like shells to survive exposure to high temperatures, salinity and desiccation.

Key Features

Hard intertidal substrate, dominated by sessile and mobile invertebrates, and macroalgae.

Overview of distribution

High-energy shorelines globally.

Profile versions

  • v1.0 (2020-01-20): MJ Bishop; DA Keith
  • v2.0 (2020-05-28): MJ Bishop; LB Firth; SL McSweeney; TP Crowe; AH Altieri; DA Keith
  • v2.01 ():
  • v2.1 (2022-04-06): MJ Bishop; LB Firth; SL McSweeney; TP Crowe; AH Altieri; DA Keith Full profile available at official site

Main references

Selected references for this functional group:

  • Connell JH (1972) Community interactions on marine rocky intertidal shores Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 3:169-192 DOI:10.1146/annurev.es.03.110172.001125

  • Thompson RC, Crowe TP, Hawkins SJ (2002) Rocky intertidal communities: past environmental changes, present status and predictions for the next 25 years Environmental Conservation 29:168-91 DOI:10.1017/s0376892902000115

Diagrammatic assembly model

Diagrammatic assembly model of MT1.1 Rocky Shorelines. See general notes on diagrams. Open image full size.

Maps

Maps are indicative of global distribution patterns are not intended to represent fine-scale patterns. The maps show areas of the world containing major (coloured red) or minor occurrences (coloured yellow) of each ecosystem functional group. See general notes on maps.

There are 2 alternative versions of the indicative map for this functional group, please compare description and sources below.

MT1.1.IM.grid_v2.0

Datasets

  • MEOW-2008

Map references

  • Spalding MD, Fox HE, Allen GR, Davidson N, Ferdaña ZA, Finlayson M, Halpern BS, Jorge MA, Lombana A, Lourie SA, Martin KD, McManus E, Molnar J, Recchia CA, Robertson J (2007) Marine ecoregions of the world: a bioregionalization of coastal and shelf areas. Bioscience 57: 573–583. DOI:10.1641/B570707

MT1.1.web.map_v1.0

Marine ecoregions (Spalding et al. 2008) containing rocky shorelines and boulder and cobble shorelines, respectively, were identified by consulting regional substrate maps, imagery available in Google Earth (to exclude ecoregions with extensive sandy or muddy shores) and expertise of authors, proofed by specialist reviewers. Open image full size.

Datasets

  • MEOW-2008
  • GSFM-2014

Map references

  • Spalding MD, Fox HE, Allen GR, Davidson N, Ferdaña ZA, Finlayson M, Halpern BS, Jorge MA, Lombana A, Lourie SA, Martin KD, McManus E, Molnar J, Recchia CA, Robertson J (2007) Marine ecoregions of the world: a bioregionalization of coastal and shelf areas. Bioscience 57: 573–583. DOI:10.1641/B570707

  • Harris PT, Macmillan-Lawler M, Rupp J, Baker EK (2014) Geomorphology of the oceans. Marine Geology 352: 4-24. 10.1016/j.margeo.2014.01.011

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