Download PPT: Benthic and Rocky Shore Organisms

Benthic and Rocky Shore
Environments
5/3/2017
© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Ocean Life Zones
• Bio-zones
– Pelagic (Water)
– Benthic (Bottom)
– The Rocky Shore is
found in the Neritic,
Supra and Sub
littoral zones
Distribution of Benthic/Rocky Shoreline Organisms
• Benthic (ocean bottom dwelling) organisms live
mainly on continental shelves.
• Their distribution is affected by surface and deep
ocean currents.
Distribution of Benthic and
Rocky Shoreline Organisms
Communities on Rocky Shores
Tidal Zonation
• Rocky shore:
• Spray Zone
• Intertidal Zone
(MTZ) (high tide
to low tide)
• Sub Low Tide
Zone
Spray Zone
• Supratidal Zone
• Organisms
– Avoid drying out
– Many animals
have shells
– Few species of
marine algae
Intertidal Zone Organisms
• High Tide Zone
• Animals have shells to
avoid drying out
• Marine algae—rock
weeds with thick cell
walls
Intertidal Zone Organisms
• Middle tide zone
• More types of marine
algae (sea weed)
• Soft-bodied animals
Intertidal Zone Organisms
• Low Tide zone
• Abundant algae
• Many animals hidden
by sea weed and sea
grass
• Crabs abundant in all
intertidal zones