Nearshore Fish Atlas of Alaska
Habitats Sampled for the Fish Atlas
Habitats sampled included soft bottoms with eelgrass, cobble beaches with understory kelps, sand or gravel beaches with no rooted vegetation, and steep bedrock outcrops with understory kelps.
Eelgrass
Eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds are typically located inside protected bays and inlets with freshwater influence. Size of eelgrass beds can vary from large expanses in bays to narrow fringing bands along deep inlets. Relative to mean lower low water, eelgrass occupies areas of the lower intertidal and subtidal zones from +1 m to -6 m. Eelgrass usually grows in soft substrates of sand, silt, or mud.
Sand - Gravel
Sand or gravel beaches with no rooted vegetation are generally “pocket beaches” found inside protected bays. Algae (e.g., filamentous) is occasionally present at sites.
Kelp
Understory kelps occupy more exposed locations, often near the entrance of bays. Kelps often grow as dense, low-lying mats on rocky substrates. Understory kelps occupy subtidal areas to depths of about -30 m. Understory kelps are dominated by Laminariales.
For more information on vegetation, see: seaweedsofalaska.com.
Bedrock
Bedrock outcrops are steep and usually located in exposed locations near the entrance of bays. Kelp is often attached to bedrock faces.