Marine Coastal Zonation in Southern Australia in Relation to a General Scheme of Classification

Abstract

The recently proposed scheme of marine zonation of T. A. and A. Stephenson is examined in relation to southern Australian conditions, and a different and more general scheme advocated. The littoral zone is considered to extend from the top of the distinctive zone of kelps, fucoids or organisms (just above extreme low tide) to the lower limit of the zone of littorinids (at or above mean high tide). Below the littoral, the upper sublittoral zone is distinguished by the dominance of large kelps or fucoids, and may extend down for varying distances. "Sublittoral fringe" is reserved as a useful term forthe uppermost part of the sublittoral where a zone of distinctive organisms is limited by extreme low water (including momentary exposure between waves). "Supralittoral fringe" is not regarded as a sufficiently distinctive zone for general use.