Sessile habitat-forming species that, • Mangroves Cherry, J.A. (2011). ‘Ecology of by their presence, increase spatial Wetland Ecosystems: Water, • Saltmarsh complexity and alter local Substrate, and Life’. Nature • Seagrass environmental conditions, often Education Knowledge 2(1):3. <>. • Macroalgae facilitating a diversified assemblage Lilley, S. E., and D. R. Schiel (2006). • Coral of organisms (Lilley & Schiel 2006). Community effects following the • Filter feeders In the marine environment this deletion of a habitat-forming alga includes seagrasses, macroalgae, from rocky marine shores. stromatolites, corals, sponges and Oecologia, 148: 672–681. other macroinvertebrates that form Cocito, S. (2004). ‘Bioconstruction large enough patches to provide and biodiversity: their mutual places for other organisms to live influence’. Scientia Marina, 68 (Cocito 2004). (Supplement 1): 137–144. Water depth Water depth influences pressure, • Supratidal McArthur, M.A., Brooke, B.P., light penetration, the degree of Przeslawski, R., Ryan, D.A., Lucieer, • Intertidal carbon mineralisation in the water V.L., Nichol, S., McCallum, A.W., • Subtidal column and tide/wave energy at the Mellin, C., Cresswell, I.D., and – Shallow sea floor which collectively influence Radke, L.C. (2010). On the use of – Deep the habitat and subsequent biota abiotic surrogates to describe found at a location. (McArthur et al. marine benthic biodiversity. – Abyssal 2010) Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 88: 21–32. Metrics have been chosen that reflect the major depth classes influencing habitat conditions. Light availability
Sessile habitat-forming species that, by their presence, increase spatial complexity and alter local environmental conditions, often facilitating a diversified assemblage of organisms (Lilley & Schiel 2006). In the marine environment this includes seagrasses, macroalgae, stromatolites, corals, sponges and other macroinvertebrates that form large enough patches to provide places for other organisms to live (Cocito 2004). • Mangroves • Saltmarsh • Seagrass • Macroalgae • Coral • Filter feeders Cherry, J.A. (2011). ‘Ecology of Wetland Ecosystems: Water, Substrate, and Life’. Nature Education Knowledge 2(1):3. <>. Lilley, S. E., and D. R. Schiel (2006). Community effects following the deletion of a habitat-forming alga from rocky marine shores. Oecologia, 148: 672–681. Cocito, S. (2004). ‘Bioconstruction and biodiversity: their mutual influence’. Scientia Marina, 68 (Supplement 1): 137–144. Water depth Water depth influences pressure, light penetration, the degree of carbon mineralisation in the water column and tide/wave energy at the sea floor which collectively influence the habitat and subsequent biota found at a location. (McArthur et al. 2010) Metrics have been chosen that reflect the major depth classes influencing habitat conditions. • Supratidal • Intertidal • Subtidal – Shallow – Deep – Abyssal McArthur, M.A., Brooke, B.P., Przeslawski, R., Ryan, D.A., Lucieer, V.L., Nichol, S., McCallum, A.W., Mellin, C., Cresswell, I.D., and Radke, L.C. (2010). On the use of abiotic surrogates to describe marine benthic biodiversity. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 88: 21–32. Light availability