life in the tidal zone

Life in the Tidal ZoneLife in the Tidal Zone

Survival and DiversitySurvival and Diversity

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Tidal HabitatsTidal HabitatsGreat places to live:

• High levels of primary (food) production: driven by phytoplankton

• Nutrient rich waters created from river drainage into the sea, and

upwelling: the replacement of deep, cold water for surface water driven

away by winds.





Tidal Zone AdaptationTidal Zone AdaptationTidal habitats change daily with the tides, so organisms adapt, or adjust to changing

environmental conditions with special features to:

Tidal habitats change daily with the tides, so organisms adapt, or adjust to changing

environmental conditions with special features to:

Avoid drying out

Protect themselves from predators

Anchor themselves to resist waves






Limpets shape their shells to fit a specific rock: effective seal against

water loss

Tube feet of sea star used for

locomotion and suction/anchorage

Hermit crab hiding in it’s

scavenged shell

Pipefish well camouflaged in eelgrass bed

Types of Tidal HabitatsTypes of Tidal Habitats

Sandy Beaches and Mud Flats Rocky Shores

Different tidal habitats require different adaptations

• Substrate offers lots of nutrients, but little structure for attachment

• Animals bury themselves in mud

• Can also attach to plants

• Little protection from strong waves: animals must anchor

• Complex tide pools possible

• Seaweeds offer protection from drying

Tidal ZonesTidal Zones

Splash Zone

High Tide Zone

Middle Tide Zone

Low Tide Zone

Subtidal Zone

Zones affected daily by changing tidesMost adaptation required

Intertidal ZoneHigh, Mid and Low



Tidal habitats are divided into zones based on relative beach location and how often they are covered by water

High on beach Out of water most of the time Species must tolerate salt,

heat, cold, and extended dry periods Low diversity

Splash ZoneSplash Zone

Splash Zone Life

Splash Zone Life




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Amphipods

Periwinkles

IsopodsBlue-Green

Algae



Lichen

Increased wave action Species must survive exposure

to drying Tide pools provide some protection Higher diversity: includes some

animals from splash zone and middle zone (in tide pools)

High Tide ZoneHigh Tide Zone

High Tide Zone LifeHigh Tide Zone Life







BarnaclesLimpets

Shore Crab

RockweedQuickTime™ and a


Most active region Covered and uncovered twice a

day Life must tolerate BOTH

submersion and exposure to air Animals move in and out of

adjacent zones to feed

Most active region Covered and uncovered twice a

day Life must tolerate BOTH

submersion and exposure to air Animals move in and out of

adjacent zones to feed

Middle Tide ZoneMiddle Tide Zone

Middle Tide Zone Life

Middle Tide Zone Life











Wrinkled Whelks Purple and Ochre Sea Stars

Blue MusselsGreen Algae

Aggregate Anemones

Most diverse zone: more plants and animals in low tide zone than in all other zones combined

Most food and shelter Less exposure to air and heat Animals unable to exist in other

zones

Most diverse zone: more plants and animals in low tide zone than in all other zones combined

Most food and shelter Less exposure to air and heat Animals unable to exist in other

zones

Low Tide ZoneLow Tide Zone

Low Tide Zone Life

Low Tide Zone Life












Eelgrass

Brittle Star

Purple Sea Urchin

Giant Green Anemone

Opalescent Nudibranch

Orange Sea Cucumber

Black Katy Chiton

Calcareous Tube Worm



Just below Intertidal Zone Almost never exposedMany consumer animals: prey on

animals in low tide zoneLife forms less tolerant to

changes: do not have adaptations to allow them to survive without water

Just below Intertidal Zone Almost never exposedMany consumer animals: prey on

animals in low tide zoneLife forms less tolerant to

changes: do not have adaptations to allow them to survive without water


are needed to see this picture.Subtidal ZoneSubtidal Zone

Subtidal Zone LifeSubtidal Zone Life


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Pipefish

Octopus

Wolf Eels

Jellyfish

Salmon

Summary Summary

Most Diverse

DiversityExposure to Water

Most time

Each zone requires unique adaptations for survival



Splash Zone

High Tide Zone

Middle Tide Zone

Low Tide Zone

Subtidal Zone

life in the tidal zone

Documents

middle zone

watersplash zone high

watermost timeeach zone

low tide zonelife forms

attachment animals

tidal zonesurvival

cold water

exposedmany consumer