I. INTRODUCTION 
The South Carolina coast consists of numerous barrier islands separated 
by estuaries and high salinity inlets. Beach and nearshore sediments in 
this region are largely composed of sand and shell fragments with very 
little rocky substrata present. Thus, well-developed intertidal communities 
of epibenthic organisms are sparse and restricted to the few jetties, groins, 
and other artificial breakwaters in the area. Subtidal epibenthic 
communities occur more frequently in association with natural hard bottom 
areas, artificial reefs, wrecks and jetty rocks, but these habitats are 
still relatively rare in South Carolina and other southeastern states. As 
a result, there have been few investigations of the benthos on hard sub- 
strates in this region, and most of those studies have concentrated on hard 
bottom areas of the continental shelf (for reviews, see Continental Shelf 
Associates, 1979; Wenner et al., 1983), or on fouling plate assemblages 
(Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1952; Sutherland, 1974; Sutherland 
and Karlson, 1977; Karlson, 1978). 
Only two studies have been published on the fauna of jetties in South 
Carolina. Stephenson and Stephenson (1952, 1972) discussed the intertidal 
biota on rock jetties and breakwaters at Charleston based on a 1947 visit, 
and McCloskey (1970) characterized the community structure of fauna 
associated with the coral Ocultna on the Charleston jetties. The Murrells 
Inlet Navigation Project, authorized by Congress in 1971, provided an 
opportunity to gain a better understanding of hard and soft bottom marine 
communities in South Carolina waters and to evaluate changes in those 
communities following jetty construction. A preliminary assessment of the 
benthic community at Murrells Inlet was conducted in 1975 (Calder et al., 
1976). This report presents detailed data obtained from more recent 
biological investigations conducted at Murrells Inlet before, during, and 
after jetty placement. Voiume I describes the colonization and community 
development of algae, macroinvertebrates, and fish on the jetties. Changes 
in the nearby intertidal and subtidal infaunal communities are described 
in Volume II. 
Specific objectives for the study described in this volume were to: 
1. Identify annual changes in the community composition, distribution, 
and abundance of the algae and macroinvertebrates colonizing the 
north jetty during the first four years. 
2. Document early recruitment and seasonal changes in community 
composition, distribution, and abundance of algae and macro- 
invertebrates on the south jetty during the first year, and 
describe subsequent annual variation. 
3. Delineate patterns of vertical biological zonation on both jetties 
from the jetty base to the supratidal zone. 
4. Define differences in community structure related to wave exposure. 
