A Study of Certain Aspects of the Ecology of the Inter-Tidal Zone of the New South Wales Coast

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Abstract
This coast line consists of extensive rocky headlands alternating with pocket beaches. Sea level rock platforms at the base of certain headlands were given chief attention. These, though constantly under heavy surf pounding, exhibited a consistent zonation of plants and sedentary animals based primarily upon tidal levels. In the transition to the littoral (intertide) belt, kelps dominated and were followed in the lower littoral by an ascidian (Pyura) at about 20 in. above zero tide. At mid-littoral levels a polychaete worm (Galeolaria) became prominent, followed by small barnacles (Chamaesipho) dominating the upper littoral. In the drier supra-littoral a small gastropod (Melaraphe) became abundant. Lists of the numerous subordinate species found in the zones are given. One of the remarkable marine true spiders (Desis crosslandi) is reported for the first time from this coast, where it lives submersed amid a maze of worm tubes. The orientation of this biota in the world picture is discussed.

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