The influence of habitat structure and environmental stability on the species diversity of polychaetes in vermetid reefs

Habitat is defined here as the environment of a community confined to a portion of the landscape. Each habitat is made of three species-specific components: 1. ‘Environmental’ physical and chemical features (e.g., temperature, salinity) 2. Resources (e.g., food, space) 3. Interacting organisms (other than those functioning as resources, e.g., competitors, predators, mutualists).