IDENTIFIED IN THIS MARINE SCIENCE HANDBOOK ARE 5 MAJOR TYPES OF NATURAL HABITATS--(1) OPEN BEACH AND ANY OTHER SEAWARD-FACING, UNPROTECTED STRAND, (2) GROINS, JETTIES, PILINGS, AND ROCK BULKHEADS, (3) SAND AND/OR MUD FLAT, (4) SALT MARSH, AND (5) UPLAND COMMUNITIES. EACH HABITAT IS DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF TYPICAL PLANTS AND ANIMALS, ADAPTATIONS, AND SPECIAL FEATURES. PLANT AND ANIMAL HABITATION IS BROKEN DOWN WHERE APPLICABLE INTO 3 ZONES BASED ON ADAPTATIONS TO THE PHYSICAL FACTORS IN THE ZONES. ILLUSTRATIVE DRAWINGS OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY EXPLANATIONS AND GENERIC NAMES. DESCRIPTIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE PRESENTED IN TERMS OF GRADIENTS WHICH AFFECT LIFE--SALINITY, TEMPERATURE, LIGHT, TEXTURE, CONTENT OF THE SUBSTRATE, AND PHYSICAL DISTURBANCE. (SW)