The Splash Zone (VER) Bioband

Zone

Bio-band Name

Database Label

Colour

Indicator Species*

Physical Description

Exposure
[Description]

Associate Species*

A

Splash Zone

VER

Black or bare rock

Verrucaria sp.

Encrusting black lichens

Visible as a dark stripe, on bare rock, marking the upper limit of the intertidal zone. This band is observed on bedrock, or on low energy boulder/cobble shorelines.

Note: This band is recorded by width

Narrow (N) = less than 1m

Medium (M) = 1m to 5m

  Wide (W) = more than 5m

Width varies with exposure.

N=VP-SP

M=SP-SE

W=SE-VE

Littorina sp.

A wide Splash Zone (VER) band of Verrucaria can be seen on this immobile Semi-Exposed (SE) shore in Round Islands.

A dark black stripe of Verrucaria representing the Splash Zone (VER) is distinct above underlying bands of Rockweed (FUC) and Red Algae (RED) on the northern tip of Duke Island.

SE06_ML_01339.jpg

SE06_MM_15303.jpg

Bioarea SECR

Bioarea SECR

* Indicator Species: The dominant species in a bioband and usually what the bioband is named for (eg. Barnacles = Barnacle bioband or BAR).
  Associated Species: Species commonly found within a given bioband. These are based on known life histories of these species and ground observations. For more detailed information on associated species and regional differences see the Shore Station database (http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/habitat/shorestation/default.htm).