Compared to terrestrial lichens, the species is typically located in areas of direct sunlight, suggests that it may have specific adaptations against damage from the sun.

[6] Because of the relatively extreme conditions of the supralittoral zone, crustose lichens are the only organisms capable of colonizing these areas.

[4] Both H. maura and Hydropunctaria amphibia synthesize sucrose in response to high salt concentrations.

[12] Hydropunctaria maura is one of the most widespread and abundant lichens in the European littoral zone, and has been found around the world, in extreme climes such as the Arctic and Antarctica.

[13] It has a cosmopolitan distribution,[14] and is found on both the East and West coasts of North America, and in the Southern Hemisphere in Tasmania and New Zealand.