ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author summarizes experimental research in the habitats, which has led to understanding of factors affecting spatial and temporal patterns of species living in boulder-fields, in addition to the contributions that have been made to broader ecological concepts. It reviews the more important early studies in boulder-fields, where boulders were used primarily to investigate general ecological theories, often in conjunction with or parallel to similar studies on rocky shores. The chapter describes studies of the general ecology of intertidal boulder-fields themselves, where the primary focus has been on understanding how their ecology differs from that of rocky shores. Many of the early ecological studies in boulder-fields used boulders as natural units of intertidal habitat to test models about general ecological processes, such as the establishment and succession of faunal or algal assemblages. Intertidal boulder-fields have many characteristics which make them ideal for experimental studies to further understanding of ecology.
