Aquascope Facts
Cliff and rocky beach ecology Other differences between coastal locales, is that coastal structures can be broken by many long and narrow bays, so called fjords or of many small islands known as skerries that form archipelagoes. Furthermore, certain rocky beaches are situated by the open sea, others are more secluded, while certains places are dominated by low-lying skerries, others are dominated by mountainous skerries with steep precipices. Further differences can also be from which direction the wind predominately blows, towards or away from land. Variations can also be seen amongst the local fauna depending on if they live on the sunny side of an island compared to a shady side.

Organisms life cycle

Marine organisms can reproduce in a variety of ways, sexually or asexually. Reproduction can also, in suitable circumstances, result in a vigorous spreading and colonization. That organisms have different life cycles and that different processes effect the different stages of their development, these are vital factors effecting the richness of the fauna within a given area.
    Bladder wrack for example has a relatively simple life cycle. Many other algae have a more complicated life cycle where two or three generations occurr without the repetition of a development stage. The different generations can have varying appearances and the switching from one generation to the other is accomplished with spores and in other cases with eggs and sperms. Although those specie that have heavy and sticky spores and eggs have a tendency to spread badly, they can still give rise to widespread populations when specie, whole or part of, drift into new areas.
    Animals can also have fairly complicated life cycles and certain larvae can survive several weeks in the water, while certain other animals do not have a pelagic larvae stage.
    Organisms ability to spread is not just of importance for where they can exist, but also for how they adapt to different environmental conditions. Good distribution ability can counteract the occurrance of special adaptions to environmental conditions, while a limited distribution allows a local population to gain special and perhaps unik characteristics that function well in the immediate environment.

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Cliffs and rocks are fantastic!
Zoning and flecked occurrence
Animals that are attached
Modular construction
Variation and change
Variations in water level
Wave exposure
Both cliffs and rocks
Freshwater and saltwater
Geography, climate and history
Organisms life cycles
Organisms effect on each other
Energy and the flow of material

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Bo Johannesson | Martin Larsvik | Lars-Ove Loo | Helena Samuelsson