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High
Tide Level
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The High Tide Level is also called the Upper Barnacle Zone by some researchers, most notably Isobel Bennett and the late William John Dakin in their various well-known books titled "Australian Seashores". At first sight a barnacle may appear to be another type of mollusc, something like a limpet. Instead of holding fast onto the rock with a strong foot, their shells are cemented onto the rock. Barnacles are crustaceans, related to crabs and prawns. There are about seven different types of barnacle found along the south-eastern shores of Australia. They are all found at various tide levels. In some zonation classification systems the barnacles are considered to be key zonation indicator species. Barnacles
Decapod CrabsThere are two other very common swift-footed crustaceans that live on the high shore. They sometimes roam above the highest tide levels. They are members of the Decapod crab group. Decapod means ten limbs, where there are eight walking or swimming legs and two feeding claws called chelae.
MolluscsAn unusual mollusc also lives at these highest tide levels. Unlike the Noddiwinks, it doesn't have an operculum door to keep in the scarce moisture. It must clamp itself down onto the rock to conserve moisture.
As we walk further down the Eastern Warm Temperate Zone shore we now reach the Mid Tide Level. References:Bennett, I. (1987) W.J. Dakin's classic study: Australian Seashores. Angus & Robertson, Sydney. Davey, K. (1998) A Photographic Guide to Seashore Life of Australia. New Holland, Sydney. Edgar, G.J. (1997) Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books, Kew. Jones, D. & Morgan, G. (1994) A Field Guide to Crustaceans of Australian Waters. Reed, Chatswood. Quinn, G.P., Wescott, G.C. & Synnot, R.N. (1992) Life on the Rocky Shores of South-Eastern Australia: an illustrated field guide. Victorian National Parks Association, Melbourne. Marine Research Group of Victoria (1984) Coastal Invertebrates of Victoria: an atlas of selected species. Museum of Victoria, Melbourne. Macpherson, J.H. & Gabriel, C.J. (1962) Marine Molluscs of Victoria. Melbourne University Press & The National Museum of Victoria. Shepherd, S.A. & Thomas, I.M. (1982) Marine Invertebrates of Victoria, Pt. 1. South Australian Government Printer, Adelaide. Underwood, A.J. & Chapman, M.G. (1993) Seashores: a beachcomber's guide. New South Wales University Press, Sydney. Wilson, B.R. & Gillett, K. (1979) A field guide to Australian Shells: Prosobranch Gastropods. A.H. & A.W. Reed, Sydney. Womersley, H.B.S. (1987) The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia. pt. 1 , South Australian Government Printer, Adelaide. |
Splash-Fringe
Level Home
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Scientific Consultant: Phil
Colman
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