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Other habitat-forming intertidal biotaShort descriptionIntertidal community dominated by habitat-forming fauna such as bryozoans, sponges, tubeworms, crinoids and/or ascidians. Disclaimer: Ecosystem type descriptions are based on biophysical attributes identified in Central Queensland through expert advice and supported by scientific literature. Not all ecosystem types are mapped based on current inventory, and many of the ecosystems described here may also occur in other parts of Queensland.
Classification categoriesSelect from the links below to view related ecosystem type categories Long descriptionIntertidal community dominated by habitat-forming fauna on any type of substrate (i.e. unassigned), and also consolidated substrates of carbonate platform, rock base, pavement or boulders, or intermediate coffee rock. Communities are dominated by biota other than seagrass, macroalgae, mangroves, saltmarsh, corals, oysters and barnacles, and typically include a low density, high species diversity mixed community of fauna, such as sponges, ascidians, crinoids, tubeworms and/or bryozoans, that is, reefal gardens not dominated by hard or soft coral. Special valuesReefal gardens can provide substantial habitat for mobile fauna, such as fishes, in an otherwise structure-less environment. Diagnostic attributesInundation 'Intertidal – Lower low', 'Intertidal – Mid low', 'Intertidal – Upper low', 'Intertidal – Low undifferentiated', 'Intertidal – Lower medium', 'Intertidal – Upper-medium', 'Intertidal – Medium undifferentiated', 'Intertidal – High', 'Intertidal – Undifferentiated', 'Intertidal – High undifferentiated', although typically found below mean sea level and closer to lowest astronomical tide level. Structural macrobiota 'Other biota – sponges', 'Other biota – ascidians', 'Other biota – crinoids', 'Other biota – tubeworms', 'Other biota – bryozoans', 'Other biota – other biota', 'Other biota – flora and fauna' QualifiersNone mapped, however Period and Trend qualifiers are relevant, as intertidal reefal gardens are highly spatially and temporally variable and their extremely low density may lead to being overlooked. DistributionSubstantially under-mapped due to lack of inventory. CommentsDepending on the consolidation, this ecosystem usually occurs as a co-type of other ecosystems, at low densities, including:
Additional InformationMolluscs - Museum of Tropical Queensland Shellfish Reef Restoration Network Last updated: 22 July 2019 This page should be cited as: Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2019) Other habitat-forming intertidal biota, WetlandInfo website, accessed 30 August 2024. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/ecology/aquatic-ecosystems-natural/estuarine-marine/descriptions/22/ |