ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that facilitate dominance along rocky coastlines. It focuses on a prominent example, the members of the Pyura stolonifera species complex, which are an emerging model system for studying ecological dominance. Interest in ecological dominance extends across a wide range of fields including paleontology and anthropology. In order to understand how ecological dominance can influence overall community structure, it is important to recognize that competition can take various forms. Ecological dominance along rocky shores is achieved by a small, taxonomically-diverse group of species. Dominant species are key components for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning along rocky shores. Both Adelaide and Corner Inlet lack rocky shores and are dominated by sandy shores, with artificial structures such as jetties and piers representing the only habitat suitable for settlement.
