Subtidal Survival
The rocky subtidal zone of the Salish Sea hosts an amazingly rich biological community dominated by diverse invertebrate species and macroalgae. Over the past century, there have been changes in the biota of the region and in its physical conditions, including rising temperature and changing ocean chemistry. As in other coastal regions, there have also been introductions of non-indigenous species in the Salish Sea, and great reductions in some native species. How has this affected the composition and functioning of these communities? Fortunately, we have a record of the composition of certain subtidal communities over at least the past half century, so we can answer at least some of these questions.