Characteristics
- Earthquakes |
-Marine Algae (seaweed) - Producer - Lacks roots, stems, leaves, and flowers - Has a Holdfast, (very similar to a structure like roots), a blade (special type of leaf), and a stem-like structure that holds these together. - Only reason why its heavy is because it absorbs water to weigh it down. - Algae is also a eukaryotic organism, and it contains chlorophyll. - Its good in this location because it can create shelter for small fish and sometimes turtles to live in -Kelp - Producer - Grows along rocky coastlines - Grows in cold places, and usually grows in the low intertidal line - There can be kelp forest, so they are good in the intertidal zone because they are strong plants that won't easily be effected by the waves. -Red Mangrove - Producer - Grows more in Tropical Zones, sometimes even in Temperate Zones, but never in Polar Zones. - This plant offers protection and stabilization to other organisms. - The Red Mangrove is a tree with tall arching roots that displays beautiful green leaves and yellow flowers. - These trees can grow up to 80 feet tall, depending on location. -Animals -Crabs - Mostly Omnivores some are also carnivores and others herbivores - Carbs are 10-legged animals. - The reason these animals are good organisms to live in the Intertidal zone are: their shells are hard so they can protect themselves against The harsh waves; their legs can also grab onto rocks and move fast; and they are also small enough to hide underneath rocks and other things. -Starfish - Carnivores. They eat clams, oysters, coral, and small fish - Are spiny, hard- skinned animals that live on the sea floor. - They can attach themselves to any hard surface, which makes them a great organism to live in the Intertidal Zone. - They are NOT fish, they are a type of organism called echinoderms. -Sea Anemones - Carnivores. They eat small fish mussels, zooplankton, and worms. - The sea anemone can live on the ocean floor, but mostly in the low waters of the Intertidal Zone, and Coral Reefs. - The Intertidal Zone is a great place for the sea anemone to live because they can firmly attach themselves to solid objects (sea floor, rocks, coral ,etc.) but them can also move very slowly. They can also be a home for some small creatures including the clown fish. |
Types of Intertidal Zones and Climate Zone
- The Rocky Intertidal Zone - This part exists in Temperate regions where rocks are exposed by the shore. - There are barnacles and seaweed that permanently attach themselves to the rocks to live on. There is also snails, sea urchins, and star fish that attach themselves to rocks, but not permanently. - Zonation (The prominent horizontal banding of organisms that live in a particular habitat) can happen, due to competitions among the organisms. - The Black Zone (or Splash Zone) - The Periwinkle Zone (or Splash Zone) - The Barnacle Zone (or Upper Zone) - The Rockweed Zone (or Middle Zone) - The Irish Moss Zone (or Lower Zone) - The Kelp Zone (or Subtidal Zone) - The climate zones can vary as well. If the Intertidal Zone is in the Artic then it would be in the Polar zone. If The Intertidal Zone is around a Rainforest it is mostly likely in a Tropical zone. Most of the Intertidal Zones are scattered in the Temperate Zone. |