PORT PHILLIP BAY

Coastal shores

Rocky surfaces between the upper and lower reaches of the tides provide a variety of microhabitats, including areas exposed to direct sunlight and shady cooler areas under rocks or in crevices. These intertidal surfaces are exposed to the air and covered by water twice a day, with areas higher up on the shore covered with water for shorter periods than places closer to the shoreline. Different species are found in different places on the shore as they are adapted to different conditions such as amount of sunlight, time spent out of the water and exposure to waves.