Shoreline Habitat Classification
Marine, intertidal, gravel, partially exposed, eulittoral
Gravel beaches seldom have one uniform grain size; most surveys report some sand mixed in with gravel. Some partially exposed habitats in the Strait of Juan de Fuca have nearly uniform gravel, and very low biological diversities. Due to the instability of the substratum, the exposed habitats are relatively unproductive with virtually no plant life, and are occupied solely by mobile burrowing animals or epibenthic forms such as shrimp. Gulls sometimes forage in these habitats, and oystercatchers may nest in high intertidal gravel areas.
Class ID
22
Class name
Marine, intertidal, gravel, partially exposed, eulittoral
Length
67.00
Primary substrate
Gravel
Secondary substrate
Sand
Substrate stability
Mobile
Substrate key details
No stable surface features
Wave exposure
Exposed, Semi-exposed, Semi-protected
Blue book classes
Marine intertidal gravel: Partially exposed
Map/survey site examples
Dungeness Spit, Twin Rivers, Ebey's Landing, Deadman Bay
Fish sampling sites
Beach Seine: Twin Rivers, Dungeness Spit, North Beach, Deadman Bay, South Beach
Diagnostic species
Gammaridea
Sphaeromatidae
Hemigrapsus
Amphistichus rhodoterus
Microgadus proximus
Ascelichthys rhodorus
Psettichthys melanostictus
Blepsias cirrhosus
VEC common associates
Crangon
Cancer spp.
Habitat classification system
Type
Map link