Physiological ecology of rocky intertidal organisms: a synergy of concepts

The rocky intertidal zone is among the most physically harshenvironments on earth. Marine invertebrates and algae livingin this habitat are alternatively pounded by waves and exposedto thermal extremes during low tide periods (Denny and Wethey,2001). Additionally, they must deal with strong selective pressuresrelated to predation and competition for space (Connell, 1961).As a result, the steep physical gradient and spatially condensedcommunity has made the rocky intertidal zone an ideal "naturallaboratory" to study the coupled role of physical and biologicalfactors in determining the abundance and distribution of organismsin nature (Connell, 1961; Paine, 1966, 1994).