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Intertidal Zone. Ms. Bridgeland. Intertidal Zone. Shallow area connected to the beach that is made up of high tides and low tides Talk about habitats that exist on ROCKY shores
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Intertidal Zone Ms. Bridgeland
Intertidal Zone • Shallow area connected to the beach that is made up of high tides and low tides • Talk about habitats that exist on ROCKY shores • Animals that live in the intertidal zone endure harsh conditions because of the wavesthat bring the high and low tides. * * Crashing waves engulfing them at times • At other times, sun beats down and no water is reaching them
Rocky Shores • Rocky Shores are found along much of both coasts of the United States • Ex. California coast
Intertidal Zones • Highest rocks on highest high tide line make up the spray zone • A strip of algae makes up the highest high tide line
Intertidal Zone • Organisms that live in the intertidal zone must be able to tolerate the pounding waves • Changes in salinity and temperature • Have to withstand periods of being underwater and periods of being exposed toair
Adaptations for animals in the Intertidal Zone • Most avoid drying out • Hide from predators • Find food in a harsh setting
Intertidal Zone • Spray Zone = the highest rocks above the high-tide line ---a strip of algae shows the highest high-tide line • Rocks below the spray zone are covered in barnacles. These rocks are also home to limpets (flat animals with large, muscular feet that allow them to hold tightly to rocks) • They release drops of mucus around the edges of their shells • Mucus form a tight seal
Barnacles • Can close up their hard shells –this action traps a drop of water inside to carry the barnacles through the dry period until the next high tide
What are Tide Pools? • They are “pools” of water that are left when a tide comes in because the land on the beach is uneven and has crevices and depressions • When the tide goes out, water remains in depressions among the rocks • What happens when water in a tide pool evaporates? • What happens when it rains on water in a tide pool?
Animals in a Tide Pool • Sea urchins: crawl slowly along the bottom of the tide pool and uses its spine to dig a hole in the bottom of the tide pool to protect itself while it waits for food. • Sea anemones: wait under shady rock ledges and wait for the incoming tide to bring a fresh supply of plankton and other food particles • Some sea anemones can survive without water for 2 weeks • Sea Stars: cling to the rocks with rows of tiny suction cups
Estuaries • Another important environment along the ocean’s edge • Coastal inlets or bays where fresh water from the river mixes with salty ocean water
Coastal Inlet: The “entrance” or connection between a bay and an ocean
“Brackish” • Water that is partly salty and partly fresh water • Water that is in an estuary is called brackish. • Fresh water + Salt water = Brackish.
Coastal Wetlands • Are found in and around estuaries. • Coastal wetlands have brackish, so have salt and fresh water mixed together • Wetland: a land area that is saturated (or completely filled) with water • In the United States, most wetlands are: • 1) Mangrove Forests • 2) Salt Marshes
1) Mangrove Forest • A wetland that is made up of Mangrove trees that grow in brackish water • Mangrove trees protect the coastline from the wind and waves during storms • Mangrove trees’ roots trap sediment from the land and create a protected “nursery” rich in nutrients for many young animals • Orchids, reptiles, birds, crabs
2) Salt Marshes • Have smelly mud made up of sediments, animal and plant matter, and nutrients carried into the marsh by fresh water and tides • Cordgrassis the most common plant in the marsh –survives well in salt water • Animals that live in salt marshes: fish, crabs, shrimp, oysters, crabs, herons, egrets, stilts
Where are Mangrove Forests and Salt Marshes? • Mangrove Forests are found in southern Florida and along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico • Salt Marshes are found along the east coast from Massachusetts to Florida.
