BIOEROSION AND BIOKARST FORMATION ON LIMESTONE COASTAL ZONE

Limestone rocky coastlines represent one of the sharpest ecotone gradients, connecting terrestrial and marine environments. They are exposed to physical and chemical environmental impacts at highest frequency and amplitude. Yet, the shaping of these coasts are largely due to biological and microbiological interactions. The organisms exposed to extremes in physical impact, insolation and fluctuation in themperature and salinity are arranged in zones and microhabitats within these zones, each characterized by a remarkable persitence in time and space, and by populations of high density and productivity. We are introducing the following microecosystems with its dominant populations: Rock pools and salt pans, Wave-spray zone, Intertidal zone and discuss formation of the biokarst and bioerosional notch. The primary production is dominated by prokaryotes (cyanobacteria) and the secondary by invertebrates (gastropods, polyplacophores, echinoderms). The approach, methods of study and the mechanism of integrated environmenal modification (through local food webs) are presented and discussed.