Rocky Shores

Question 1

What dominates sheltered rocky shores?

Answer 1

Algal domination (macroalgae).

Question 2

What does littoral fringe mean?

Answer 2

The upper part of the shore e.g. fucoid algae - spiral wrack.

Question 3

Whats does eulittoral mean?

Answer 3

Main part of the shore e.g. fucoid algae - egg wrack.

Question 4

What does sublittoral mean?

Answer 4

Below eulittoral zone - can be submerged e.g. Laminarians (kelps) - Oarweed.

Question 5

Give examples of marine organisms that live on the rocky shores which have armour plating.

Answer 5

• Acorn barnacles- - open when tide is in and feed on zooplankton with siri appendages
• Limpets - use radula to rasp away at algae at early stage of life cycle of rock - returns to home scar at low tide
• Periwinkles - grazers
• Dogwhelks - can use probosis with modified radula to penetrate mussel shell and remove flesh
• Blue mussel.

Question 6

Describe limpet sex lives of common limpets.

Answer 6

• Protandrous hermaphrodite: starft male, become female
• Spawn in autumn due to increased wave action
• Sexes separate in other species.

Question 7

What are some of the mobile predators found on rocky shores?

Answer 7

• Crabs - green and brown

- Starfish.