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Cross
section of a typical Giant Kelp forest in Central California showing
distribution of common species and microhabitats associated with the
forest (from Foster and Schiel 1985).
Microhabitats
include:
- Canopy
assemblages (isopods, tubeworms, and bryozoans).
- Planktonic
assemblages (jellyfish, fish larvae, diatoms, and crustaceans).
- Holdfast
assemblages (sea urchins, crustaceans, brittle stars, and anemones).
- Horizontal
substrate assemblages (urchins, sea stars, algae, tunicates, and
bottom fish).
- Vertical
wall assemblages (coralline algae, anemones, cup corals, sponges,
and bryozoans).
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to Kelp Facts - Inhabitants
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