The structure of macrofaunal assemblages inhabiting an intertidal sandflat in Tomales Bay, California

Confronted with a diverse sandflat community of interacting organisms and a spectrum of physical forces, a meaningful community analysis should begin with a description of physical characteristics and faunal distributions over time. The functional importance of certain species in the community should then be investigated by using both field and laboratory experiments. Consequently, the purpose of this research was twofold: (1) to apply the methods of similarity and gradient analysis to describe the faunal gradation on an intertidal sandflat and; (2) use these data to design a predator exclusion field experiment aimed at assessing the effects of shorebird, crab and fish predation on certain infaunal and epifaunal invertebrates