Field Guide to the Seashores of South-Eastern Australia

The types of plants and animals that live on seashores in temperate regions are similar around the globe, but many of the individual species in south-eastern Australia are found only in this region. Field Guide to the Seashores of South-Eastern Australia features color photographs, descriptions, and ecological notes for around 240 species of the more common plants and animals found on rocky, sandy, and muddy shores along the coastline from Port Lincoln, South Australia, to the Hawkesbury River, New South Wales, and Tasmania. This guide will allow beachgoers to learn interesting details about the plants and animals they come across, while also having sufficient scientific detail for natural history enthusiasts and biology students to develop their understanding of these shore ecosystems. Features: Contains photographs, brief taxonomic notes, geographic range, morphology and ecology of around 240 common species of plants and animals. Where relevant, multiple images of species have been included to highlight within-species variation (e.g. in color patterns) and/or to provide dorsal and ventral views. Provides a simple identification key to help readers find the specimen they are looking for or observing. Describes organisms that commonly wash ashore and the different types of egg clusters that people may encounter while visiting a local seashore. Features conservation of intertidal species and their habitats as a key theme. Expands on Wescott and Porter’s Life on the Rocky Shores of South-eastern Australia (VNPA, 2010) by including more species, a greater geographic range, more detailed species descriptions for the marine plants and a new section covering the species of sandy and muddy shores. Cover Title Page Copyright Contents Preface and acknowledgements Start here to get the most out of this guide Introduction Conservation Code Preparing for your visit to the shoreline About scientific names Sea Country and Saltwater Peoples Human impacts on seashores in south-eastern Australia Conservation and management of south-eastern Australian shores Citizen science (by Rebecca Koss) Intertidal ecology Plants Introduction to marine plants Blue–green algae Red algae Green algae Brown algae Seagrasses Saltmarsh plants Grey mangrove Lichens Animals of rocky shores Introduction Sponges Anemones Flatworms Segmented or bristle worms Ribbon worms Peanut worms Shells Chitons Snails Sea slugs and nudibranchs Bivalves Octopus Animals with jointed limbs Barnacles Slaters, shrimp and crabs Lace coral Animals with tube feet Urchins Sea stars Brittle stars Sea cucumbers Sea squirts, tunicates Animals of sandy and muddy shores Important marine soft-sediment habitats Life beneath your beach towel Typical beach bugs Sandy beach predators Like a bug stuck in the mud Segmented or bristle worms Shells Molluscs with coiled shells Molluscs with two shells Animals with jointed limbs Sand hoppers, sea slaters, shrimp and crabs Millipedes, insects and spiders Egg masses All washed up: natural marine debris Glossary Further reading Index of common names Index of scientific names The types of plants and animals that live on seashores in temperate regions are similar around the globe, but many of the individual species in south-eastern Australia are found only in this region. Field Guide to the Seashores of South-Eastern Australia features colour photographs, descriptions and ecological notes for around 240 species of the more common plants and animals found on rocky, sandy and muddy shores along the coastline from Port Lincoln, South Australia, to the Hawkesbury River, New South Wales, and Tasmania. This guide will allow beachgoers to learn interesting details about the plants and animals they come across, while also having sufficient scientific detail for natural history enthusiasts and biology students to develop their understanding of these shore ecosystems