Biology of Rocky Shores. 1996. (Biology of Habitats Series). illus. 256 p. gr8vo. Paper bd.

This is an introduction to the study of marine rocky shores in thetemperate zone. Centered in North-West Europe, but using examples fromall over the world, the book begins by considering the physical factors that characterize the habitat - primarily tides and waves - and goes onto assess how they influence the organisms that live within it. It describes how the behaviour and physiology of individuals belonging to the major groups - algae, grazers, suspension feeders, and predators - are affected by their habitat, how their communities are structured, anddiscusses theories of community organization. For field courses, itsuggests experiments and observations that can be carried out on theshore or in nearby laboratories. Finally, problems of pollution and conservation are considered in the context of their effects uponbiodiversity.