Spring, the season of the ‘grape-eaters’

The higher water temperatures and increased light in-tensity associated with the austral spring lead to changes in the availability of benthic habitats, including various algae. On a recent trip to an extensive rock pool on the Coffs Harbour coast, growths of Caulerpa were much more luxuriant than over the winter months and a number of heterobranch sea slugs were making the most of this food supply.