Abstract:
The rocky intertidal is a diverse ecosystem with a variety of species and ecological
interactions. Many biotic and abiotic interactions act together to restrict the abundance
and distribution of species. Anthropogenic effects can have an important impact on
species abundance and distribution as well. This study looks at how human visitation
affects community structure in the rocky intertidal along the Oregon coast. Areas of high
human visitation were found to have lower species richness than areas of low visitation in
the lower vertical zones of the rocky intertidal. However, species richness was found to
be higher in high visitation areas in the highest intertidal zone. Abundance of species
differed between areas of high and low human visitation, but showed few overall
significant trends.
