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Intertidal Zones
By. Ms. Messer
Intertidal Zone
Where in the world is it found?
 Intertidal zones are found where the land and sea meet,
between the high and low tide zones. This complex
marine ecosystem is found along coastlines worldwide.
Intertidal Zone Abiotic Factors
 Because of tides, there are huge daily changes in
moisture, temperature, turbulence (from the water),
and salinity (amount of salt).
 This biome is rich in nutrients and oxygen.
Native Plants
Native Plants
Seagrasses are grass-like flowering
plants that live completely
submerged in marine and estuarine
waters.
Marine algae is also known as
seaweed and comes is hundreds of
varieties.
Native Animals
Native Animals
The sea anemone is a predatory
animal that looks like a flower and
lives on the ocean floor.
Bivalves are soft-bodied animals
that are protected by two hard
shells, hinged together. Scallops,
oysters and clams are bivalves.
Hermit crabs are crabs that
lack a hard shell; they use a
discarded shell for protection.
Plant Adaptations
 Many plants can adapt to varying levels of salt in the
water and high changes in temperature that happen
every day.
Animal Adaptations
Most intertidal animals have a hard outer shell or
exoskeleton to ensure they aren’t crushed by the
rough tides.
Symbiotic Relationship in
Intertidal Zones
 Limpet (small clam-like organism) and coralline crust
algae
 The limpet gets a constant source of food and a smooth
surface to feed from. The algae benefits by having its
surface cleaned by the limpet. Without the limpet,
coralline crust algae would suffocate under debris and
faster growing algae would overtake its space. This is an
example of mutualism.
Where’s the party? There are LOTS of
recreational activities here!
 If you’re looking for fun, come to the intertidal zone!
 If you want to see a unique marine ecosystem with tons
of critters, you’ve come to the right spot.
Unfortunately, people have negatively impacted this
biome with direct pollution and introduction of invasive
species. Most intertidal zones are protected areas or
nature preserves that people can’t disturb.
Famous Intertidal Zones
 Glacier Bay, Alaska Intertidal Zone
 Bodega, California Marine Reserve
 Gulf Island, British Columbia National Park Preserve
Environmental Threats
 Visitors: People are one of the biggest threats to the
intertidal zone, as tide pools are popular attractions.
The overall impact of people exploring tide pools and
stepping on organisms and their habitat, and sometimes
taking creatures, has resulted in a decrease in
organisms in some areas.
 Coastal Development: Pollution and runoff from
increased development can damage tide pools through
the introduction of contaminants.
Endangered Species
Triton Trumpet
Snail
Why should we care?
 Although intertidal zones represent only a very small
proportion of the Earth's surface, they're important
because they're regions in which two very different
types of environment meet, and in which a complex
web of interactions takes place.
 Rocky intertidal shores support an enormous range of
life. Rocky-shore animals and plants have an
increasingly harder time the further they are from the
sea, since they rely on seawater and most are unable to
move with the tides. Seaweed thrives here and many
animals survival is dependent on seaweed for food.