M1.6 Subtidal rocky reefs

M1. Marine shelf biome

M1

Profile summary

Full profile at https://global-ecosystems.org/explore/groups/M1.6

Brief description

These rocky subtidal ecosystems are widespread globally on ocean shelves . They are distinguished from kelp forests (M1.2) by their lack of a dense macroalgal canopy. Indeed, their complex habitat structure is derived mostly from irregular rock forms, rather than biogenic features, and supports a diverse epibenthic fauna, with a range of mobile benthic animals (e.g. anemones), while truly sessile organisms tend to be small (e.g. turf algae, barnacles). Community structure depends on depth, wave action, currents and light: for example, turbulence specialists like barnacles are more prolific on shallower, higher energy reefs. Storms impact structure by shifting sand and dislodging larger organisms episodically.

Key features

Productive systems with functionally diverse sessile and mobile biota, and a strong depth gradient.

Overview of distribution

Continental and island shelves.

Map description

These are ecosystem functional groups that are widespread through the global extent of the marine shelf biome. Reliable data on their precise distribution are limited. To represent regional uncertainty, their indicative distributions were mapped in as minor occurrences through the full extent of the marine ‘shelf’ base layer as mapped by Harris et al. (2014b). Occurrences were converted to 30 arc second spatial resolution..

Map code and version: M1.6.web.orig v1.0. DOI

Version history

Profile versions

  • v2.1 (2022-04-06): BA Polidoro; EJ Gregr; SE Swearer; SN Porter; DA Keith.1
  • v2.01 (NA): NA.
  • v2.0 (2020-06-15): BA Polidoro; EJ Gregr; SE Swearer; SN Porter; DA Keith.
  • v1.0 (2020-01-20): BA Polidoro; EJ Gregr; DA Keith.

Available maps

Read more details about the current map versions here.

  • Indicative Map (code: M1.6.IM.orig, version v1.0)
  • Web navigation (code: M1.6.web.orig, version v1.0)

Read more details about older or alternative versions of maps for this functional group.

References

Main references

References used in the different versions of the profiles.

  • Sebens K (1985) The ecology of the rocky subtidal zone American Scientist 73: 548-557. URL

Map references

References used in the different versions of the maps (current and discarded).

  • 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

Footnotes

  1. This is the current version available at official site.↩︎