Artificial hard substrates as ecosystems: a case-study of the Belgian coast

Rocky shores (natural intertidal hard substrates) are known for their high density and especially for their high diversity of marine organisms (e.g. algae, invertebrates, fishes and birds). They are complex ecosystems in which the biological richness results from biotic (predation, competition, grazing) and abiotic (tides, waves, coastal topography) interactions. The majority of the organisms living on rocky shores are restricted to this habitat, forming distinct communities that are significantly different from the surrounding soft substrates (e.g. sandy beaches).In contrast to the French and... Mehr ...