Kelp Forest and Rocky Subtital Habitats
Figure 1

Cross section of typical Central California kelp forest showing distribution of common species and microhabitats associated with the forest.

A. Canopy assemblages (isopods, tubeworms, and bryozoans).
B. Planktonic assemblages (jellyfish, fish larvae, diatoms, and crustaceans).
C. Holdfast assemblages (sea urchins, crustaceans, brittle stars, and anemones).
D. Horizontal substrate assemblages (urchins, sea stars, algae, tunicates, and bottom fish).
E. Vertical wall assemblages (coralline algae, anemones, cup corals, sponges, and bryozoans).