Marine, intertidal, bedrock, partially exposed, eulittoral

Sites not directly exposed to oceanic swell but with substantial wave action are found throughout the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and on the west and south sides of the San Juan Islands and Whidbey Island. Outer coast areas with long intertidal benches or adjacent offshore islands that break the swell also fall in this category.  Wave energies are less but there is a consequent increase in desiccation stress (and perhaps other stresses) leading to somewhat lower diversities than at the most exposed sites. In Washington, low tides on the more inland waters also fall at highly stressful hours (nearer midday in the summer and midnight in the winter), contributing to lower diversities. Seals use these protected habitats as well as the exposed ones.  Similar complements of birds roost and forage here.

Habitat attributes

Class ID: 
2
Class name: 
Marine, intertidal, bedrock, partially exposed, eulittoral
Length: 
114.0 km (in WA)
Primary substrate: 
Bedrock
Secondary substrate: 
Boulder
Tertiary substrate: 
Substrate stability: 
Stable
Substrate key details: 
No sediment except sand scour at some sites
Wave exposure: 
Semi-exposed
Blue book classes: 
Marine intertidal rock: Partially exposed
Map/survey site examples: 
Shipwreck Point; Tongue Point; West side San Juan and Lopez Islands
Fish sampling sites: 
Tidepool/Boulder: Slip Pt., Observatory Pt.
Diagnostic species: 
  • Mytilus californianus
  • Saccharina sessile
  • Phyllospadix
  • Katharina tunicata
  • Pisaster ochraceus
  • Anthopleura elegantissima
  • Balanidae
  • Lottia
  • Clinocottus globiceps
  • Oligocottus maculosus
  • Gobiesox maeandricus
  • Oligocottus snyderi
  • Clinocottus acuticeps
VEC common associates: 
Haematopus
Species notes: