Summary: MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
Mar Ecol Prog Ser
Vol. 331: 49­65, 2007 Published February 16
INTRODUCTION
The significance of predation in structuring marine
communities is heavily influenced by physical and bio-
logical gradients at a variety of scales and hierarchical
levels. Vertical gradients in predation pressure are gen-
erally established along rocky shores by wave action,
competition, and the threat of desiccation, resulting in
high levels of predation in the subtidal zone and de-
creasing predation intensity as one moves up into the
intertidal (e.g. Paine 1974, Menge 1976). Wave action
can also establish horizontal gradients in the rocky
intertidal, as evidenced by the presence of larger and
better-defended prey on protected shores relative to
conspecifics on wave-exposed shores (Menge 1978a,b,
Trussell 1996, Boulding et al. 1999). Within the subtidal
zone, the structural complexity generated by hard-
bottom environments such as reefs and other topo-

Source: Aronson, Richard B. - Dauphin Island Sea Lab. & University of South Alabama

Collections: Environmental Sciences and Ecology