Intertidal zonation and key-species associations of the flat rocky shores of sinai, used for scaling environmental variables affecting cerithiid gastropods

Safriel U.N. Safriel, Yoram Ayal

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Horizontal and near-horizontal rocky platforms at about mean sea level dominate a significant portion of the Sinai Red Sea rocky coasts. Four key-environmental variables govern the distribution of cerithiid gastropods (ptobably many other species as well) on the platforms' surfaces: wave exposure, fluctuations in moisture, temperature and salinity and presence of sediment and its depth and sediment movement. These variables are interdependent and difficult to assess directly, but, being associated with other easily observable environmental features, they can be indirectly determined. In spite of differences in species richness and diversity and the degree of patchiness between the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Elat, the universal scheme of intertidal zonation could be commonly applied to both gulfs. Within this scheme, key-species associations were consistently associated each with a specific segment of the gradients formed by the four environmental variables. As a result, a system for scaling these variables with the aid of keyspecies associations is proposed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)110-124
Number of pages15
JournalIsrael Journal of Zoology
Volume29
Issue number1-3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1980
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Animal Science and Zoology

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