(14)_Rocky_intertidal

Tides

Gravitational pull exerted on water by the moon and the sun.

Spring tides

Occurs when the sun and moon are in line, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides.

Neap tides

Occurs when the sun is at a right angle to the moon, resulting in minimal tidal changes.

Intertidal communities

Shoreline ecosystems between the highest high tide and lowest low tide, characterized by stressful physical conditions.

Rocky shores

The most densely inhabited intertidal shores, known for species like mussels, barnacles, and seaweeds.

Vertical zonation

Distribution of dominant species in distinct horizontal bands across the intertidal zone.

Supralittoral fringe

An area above the high tide line inhabited by littorine snails and lichens.

Midlittoral zone

The area of the intertidal zone that is home to barnacles and mussels.

Infralittoral fringe

The zone beneath the midlittoral zone characterized by laminarians, or brown seaweeds.

Wave shock

The damage caused to organisms by the force of waves, influencing their distribution and morphology.

Physiological tolerance

The ability of a species to survive in varying environmental conditions.

Interspecific competition

Competition between different species that can affect the distribution and abundance of organisms.

Predation

The act of one organism consuming another, which can influence competitive dynamics in intertidal zones.

Herbivory

The consumption of plant material by animals, which can limit the growth of seaweeds.

Patchiness

Irregular distribution of species in the rocky intertidal that can be influenced by various biological and physical factors.

Succession

The sequence of species replacement following a disturbance in an ecosystem.

Opportunistic species

Species that colonize quickly in disturbed areas, often characterized by rapid growth.

Tidal range

The difference in height between high tide and low tide, which can vary significantly based on geographic location and phase of the moon.

Littoral zone

The area of water closest to the shore, which is affected by tides and is rich in biodiversity.

Epifauna

Animals that live on the surface of the substrate in the marine environment, such as crabs and sea stars.

Infauna

Organisms that live within the sediment of the ocean floor, including clams and worms.

Salinity

The concentration of salts in water, which can affect the types of organisms that can survive in intertidal zones.

Thermal stress

The impact of temperature changes on marine organisms, particularly during tidal fluctuations.

Desiccation

The process of drying out that organisms experience during low tide, leading to adaptations for survival.

Biotic factors

Living components of an ecosystem, such as competition and predation, that affect the distribution and abundance of organisms.

Abiotic factors

Non-living components of an ecosystem, such as temperature, salinity, and wave action, that influence the organisms living there.

Keystone species

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, such as sea otters in kelp forests.

Zonation

The arrangement of different communities or ecosystems in specific spatial patterns, often based on environmental factors.

Biological indicator species

Species whose presence, absence, or abundance reflects the health of an ecosystem, often used in environmental monitoring.

Settling mechanism

The process through which larvae or juvenile organisms attach to a substrate, crucial for species like barnacles and mussels.

Competitor species

Species that compete for the same resources in an ecosystem, influencing population dynamics and community structure.

Grazers

Organisms that feed on algae and other primary producers, playing an important role in regulating plant populations.

Niche differentiation

The process by which competing species use the environment differently to minimize competition for resources.

Tidal pool

A body of water left by the receding tide, often rich in various marine species and ideal for study.

Coral bleaching

The loss of color in corals due to environmental stress, leading to the expulsion of symbiotic algae, ultimately causing coral death.

Microhabitats

Small, specialized habitats within a larger ecosystem that provide specific conditions for certain organisms.

Biodiversity hotspot

A biogeographic region with significant levels of biodiversity that is under threat from human activities and environmental changes.

Human impact on intertidal zones

The effects of human activities, such as pollution and coastal development, that alter or damage intertidal ecosystems.