The Inter-Tidal ZoneThe Inter-Tidal Zone

Period 3Period 3By:By:

Ken RosenbergKen RosenbergKatie CollinsKatie CollinsJen JensonJen Jenson

What is the Inter-Tidal ZoneWhat is the Inter-Tidal Zone The inter-tidal zone is divided into four The inter-tidal zone is divided into four

broad sections: splash, upper inter-tidal, broad sections: splash, upper inter-tidal, mid inter-tidal, and low inter-tidal zones. mid inter-tidal, and low inter-tidal zones.

Inter-Tidal Zone : Splash ZoneInter-Tidal Zone : Splash Zone The first place, the The first place, the

splash zone, includes splash zone, includes shore crabs and large shore crabs and large isopods. isopods.

Inter-Tidal Zone: Upper ZoneInter-Tidal Zone: Upper Zone . Covered in rough acorn . Covered in rough acorn

barnacles, carnivorous barnacles, carnivorous snails, and algae is the snails, and algae is the upper tidal zone. upper tidal zone. Predators of the algae Predators of the algae include periwinkle snails, include periwinkle snails, turban snails and limpets. turban snails and limpets. Barnacles would easily Barnacles would easily overpopulate this area if it overpopulate this area if it weren’t for predators. weren’t for predators.

Inter-Tidal Zone: Mid ZoneInter-Tidal Zone: Mid Zone Dominant in the mid Dominant in the mid

inter-tidal zone are inter-tidal zone are gooseneck barnacle gooseneck barnacle and sea palm algae. and sea palm algae. Mussels, in this Mussels, in this section, also provide section, also provide a thick bed of security a thick bed of security for snails and crabs. for snails and crabs.

Inter-Tidal Zone: Low ZoneInter-Tidal Zone: Low Zone The lowest section of this biome is probably the The lowest section of this biome is probably the

liveliest. Algae in the low inter-tidal zone include liveliest. Algae in the low inter-tidal zone include the red coralline and other large kelp-like plants. the red coralline and other large kelp-like plants. Upon these plants dwell worms, snapping shrimp, Upon these plants dwell worms, snapping shrimp, porcelain crabs, and sea urchins. The sunflower porcelain crabs, and sea urchins. The sunflower starfish preys on these urchins. Other organisms starfish preys on these urchins. Other organisms include sponges, sea squirts, bryozoans, and include sponges, sea squirts, bryozoans, and hydroids. Sea anemones capture food from hydroids. Sea anemones capture food from currents and large crab and small octopus act as currents and large crab and small octopus act as dominant predators in this area. Many fish and dominant predators in this area. Many fish and small shrimp live in large tide pool areas such as small shrimp live in large tide pool areas such as these.these.

What are Abiotic & Biotic What are Abiotic & Biotic Factors?Factors?

Abiotic Factor: A physical, or nonliving, Abiotic Factor: A physical, or nonliving, factor that shapes an ecosystem.factor that shapes an ecosystem.

Biotic Factor: The biological influence on Biotic Factor: The biological influence on organisms within an ecosystemorganisms within an ecosystem

Inter-Tidal Zone: Abiotic Inter-Tidal Zone: Abiotic Factors Factors

Abiotic factors consist of the water Abiotic factors consist of the water temperature, tide levels, amount of temperature, tide levels, amount of sunlight, and air temperature. sunlight, and air temperature.

Inter-Tidal Zone: Biotic FactorsInter-Tidal Zone: Biotic Factors Biotic factors in this biome include Biotic factors in this biome include

zonation, plants, and competitors.zonation, plants, and competitors.

Inter-Tidal Zone: Geological Inter-Tidal Zone: Geological HistoryHistory

Inter-tidal Zones can Inter-tidal Zones can be found all over the be found all over the world. In the US world. In the US alone, they can be alone, they can be found all along the found all along the west and east coasts. west and east coasts. On the Northern On the Northern Californian Coast Californian Coast alone, there are alone, there are hundreds of these hundreds of these specific areas.specific areas.

Inter-Tidal Zone: Future Inter-Tidal Zone: Future OutlookOutlook

The inter-tidal zone in the past decade has been very The inter-tidal zone in the past decade has been very threatened and effects have already been noticed. threatened and effects have already been noticed. People who visit beaches often move, touch, take, or People who visit beaches often move, touch, take, or disturb the very delicate array of life. Pollution has also disturb the very delicate array of life. Pollution has also had an effect on the amount of animals now living in tide had an effect on the amount of animals now living in tide pools. Different animals that, just a few years ago were pools. Different animals that, just a few years ago were not known for living in tide pools, are now appearing, not known for living in tide pools, are now appearing, signaling that some kind of change is happening. Not signaling that some kind of change is happening. Not many projects are out there to protect this delicate many projects are out there to protect this delicate biome. Some beaches post signs telling their visitors to biome. Some beaches post signs telling their visitors to make sure not to disturb the tide pools, but other than make sure not to disturb the tide pools, but other than this, not many precautions have been taken thus far.this, not many precautions have been taken thus far.

What does the Inter-Tidal Zone What does the Inter-Tidal Zone look like?look like?

When you ask people When you ask people what an inter-tidal zone what an inter-tidal zone is, they probably would is, they probably would relate it to tide pools. This relate it to tide pools. This is true; tide pools are a is true; tide pools are a main part of the zone. main part of the zone. When looking at a tide When looking at a tide pool in low tide, you will pool in low tide, you will see a small pool of water see a small pool of water that is inside or on top of that is inside or on top of rocky structures along a rocky structures along a particular beach.particular beach.

Inter-Tidal Zone Location Inter-Tidal Zone Location DependencesDependences

These tide zones appear on coastal These tide zones appear on coastal beaches all over the world, however beaches all over the world, however different species of animals and plants in different species of animals and plants in each area all depends on the latitude. each area all depends on the latitude. Inter-tidal zones are found all over, Inter-tidal zones are found all over, including North America, Africa, South including North America, Africa, South America, Australia, and the Mediterranean America, Australia, and the Mediterranean Coasts.Coasts.

Inter-Tidal Zone: ClimatogramInter-Tidal Zone: Climatogram Here is a Climatogram from a Tide Here is a Climatogram from a Tide

Pool location. You can conclude in Pool location. You can conclude in this, that this area received the most this, that this area received the most rain during the middle of the year, rain during the middle of the year, when temperatures where lowest. when temperatures where lowest. The rest of the year, when The rest of the year, when temperature was higher, less rain temperature was higher, less rain was received. These results do was received. These results do have an effect on Tide Pool life, but have an effect on Tide Pool life, but only partially. The other effects only partially. The other effects include Tide, and Water include Tide, and Water Temperature.Temperature.

Inter-Tidal Zone: Food Inter-Tidal Zone: Food RelationshipsRelationships

Food chains and webs are the specific, interwoven Food chains and webs are the specific, interwoven relations between each and every specie of a biome. In relations between each and every specie of a biome. In the tide pools, for instance, plankton are at the very base the tide pools, for instance, plankton are at the very base of the food chain. Using photosynthesis, plankton of the food chain. Using photosynthesis, plankton creates their own energy, therefore making them primary creates their own energy, therefore making them primary producers. Barnacles feed on these producers, receiving producers. Barnacles feed on these producers, receiving 10% of the energy. The most common predator of the 10% of the energy. The most common predator of the barnacle is the whelk. These snails are preyed upon by barnacle is the whelk. These snails are preyed upon by sea stars, which are very close to the top of the food sea stars, which are very close to the top of the food chain. The adult sea star does not have very many chain. The adult sea star does not have very many predators in the tide pool area, although hungry birds predators in the tide pool area, although hungry birds and very large snails can be dangerous in the open sea. and very large snails can be dangerous in the open sea.

Inter-Tidal Zone: Food Inter-Tidal Zone: Food Relationships Cont.Relationships Cont.

Primary Consumers: Consumers feed on producers. 10-20% of energy Primary Consumers: Consumers feed on producers. 10-20% of energy passes on from producers to consumers. Examples: snails and barnaclespasses on from producers to consumers. Examples: snails and barnacles

Tertiary Consumers: Eat Carnivores. Conversion of energy only about 1%. Tertiary Consumers: Eat Carnivores. Conversion of energy only about 1%. Examples: crab and octopusExamples: crab and octopus

Detritivores: break down dead tissues and wastes. Examples: Sea UrchinsDetritivores: break down dead tissues and wastes. Examples: Sea Urchins

Inter-Tidal Zone: Food ChainInter-Tidal Zone: Food Chain

SeaweedSeaweed

StarfishStarfish

Hermit CrabHermit Crab

SculpinSculpin

OctopusOctopus

Inter-Tidal Zone: Food WebInter-Tidal Zone: Food Web

SeaweedSeaweed

StarfishStarfish

Hermit CrabHermit Crab

Sculpin FishSculpin Fish

OctopusOctopus

CrabCrab

Lobster Lobster

Sand Dollar Sand Dollar

Inter-Tidal Zone: Roles Of Inter-Tidal Zone: Roles Of Biotic FactorsBiotic Factors

Primary producers play a big role in this ecosystem. Primary producers play a big role in this ecosystem. They are a limiting factor of consumers and can effect a They are a limiting factor of consumers and can effect a population greatly. Producers are also autotrophic population greatly. Producers are also autotrophic organisms that use solar or chemical energy to create all organisms that use solar or chemical energy to create all the organic nutrients in an ecosystem. Seaweed and the organic nutrients in an ecosystem. Seaweed and algae are examples of primary producers. A biome algae are examples of primary producers. A biome would not be complete without primary consumers. would not be complete without primary consumers. These organisms feed on the producers, receiving 10% These organisms feed on the producers, receiving 10% of their energy. Examples of these consumers consist of of their energy. Examples of these consumers consist of snails and barnacles. Tertiary consumers are the snails and barnacles. Tertiary consumers are the carnivorous animals of the bunch. Crabs and octopus in carnivorous animals of the bunch. Crabs and octopus in this area convert about 1% of energy from their prey. this area convert about 1% of energy from their prey. The last members of the whole ecosystem cycle are the The last members of the whole ecosystem cycle are the detritivores. Detritivores, such as sea urchins, break detritivores. Detritivores, such as sea urchins, break down dead tissues and wastes.down dead tissues and wastes.

Inter-Tidal Zone: Commercial Inter-Tidal Zone: Commercial UsesUses

Shrimp, lobster, crab, and octopus are all Shrimp, lobster, crab, and octopus are all commercially fished. In non-tide pool commercially fished. In non-tide pool area’s in the low inter-tidal zone.area’s in the low inter-tidal zone.

Tide pools are not often used for Tide pools are not often used for commercial, because this biome is commercial, because this biome is protected. Often, these areas are tested protected. Often, these areas are tested and studied by scientists or for other and studied by scientists or for other educational purposes.educational purposes.

Inter-Tidal Zone: Negative Inter-Tidal Zone: Negative Impact of Human Activity Impact of Human Activity

Over fishing in the low inter-tidal zone Over fishing in the low inter-tidal zone could be a possibility so that why certain could be a possibility so that why certain organizations monitor the animal organizations monitor the animal population. population.

For the most part, inadvertently, humans For the most part, inadvertently, humans severely damage these delicate plants and severely damage these delicate plants and animals in the Inter-Tidal Zone. Many animals in the Inter-Tidal Zone. Many people touch, move, and take the life people touch, move, and take the life forms in tide pools, disrupting the habitat. forms in tide pools, disrupting the habitat.

Inter-Tidal Zone: ConclusionInter-Tidal Zone: Conclusion The Inter-Tidal Zone is a biome in The Inter-Tidal Zone is a biome in

which a vast array of life forms exist. which a vast array of life forms exist. Lifting up a rock may hold a pool of water, Lifting up a rock may hold a pool of water, but as you look closer you might just see but as you look closer you might just see many tiny plants and animals that you many tiny plants and animals that you have never seen before. To appreciate have never seen before. To appreciate this biome you need to go out and see it this biome you need to go out and see it with your own eyes. with your own eyes.

Inter-Tidal Zone: QuestionsInter-Tidal Zone: Questions 1. Name 3 abiotic factors of the Inter-tidal 1. Name 3 abiotic factors of the Inter-tidal

Zone.Zone. 2. What are the 4 zones in the Inter-tidal 2. What are the 4 zones in the Inter-tidal

Zone?Zone? 3. Name one negitive impact of human 3. Name one negitive impact of human

activity in an Inter-tidal Zone.activity in an Inter-tidal Zone.