Intertidal cirripedes are readily available on rocky shores. They are found
in large numbers and, in most cases, are easily accessible. They have, the
refore, been widely used in marine ecological studies. in their intertidal
habitat, during their lifetime, they face physical and biotic pressures whi
ch may impede their growth or sometimes destroy them completely The protect
ive measures developed by barnacles to counteract physical factors such as
ice scour and exposure to waves have been reviewed. The removal of cyprids
and newly settled barnacles by algal whiplash or bulldozing by grazing orga
nisms has been considered. The smothering of juveniles and adults by overgr
owing competitors is a biological interaction that cannot be regarded as pr
edation but is still important in the cirripede habitat. Predation. in the
true sense of the word, has been dealt with systematically from hydrozoans
through fish and birds to man. Community studies that probably started on E
uropean shores have been extended worldwide.