Beach Field Trip

Sand Castle Worm

Phylum: Annelida

Class: Polychaeta

• Zone 4 (Low tide)

California Mussel

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Bivalvia

• Zone 3 (Mid tide zone)

Spiny Chiton

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Polyplacophora

• Zone 3 (Mid tide zone)

Small Acorn Barnacle

Phylum: Arthropoda

Subphylum: Crustacea

• Zone 1-2 (Splash/High Tide)

Gooseneck Barnacle

Phylum: Arthropoda

Subphylum: Crustacea

• Zone 3-4 (Mid/low tide zone)

Blue Bandit Hermit Crab

Phylum: Arthropoda

Subphylum: Crustacea

• Zone 2-3 (High/Mid tide zone)

Striped Shore Crab

Phylum: Arthropoda

Subphylum: Crustacea

• Zone 2-3 (High/Mid tide zone)

Opaleye

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Osteichthyes

• Zone 4 (Low tide zone)

Feather Boa Kelp

Type: Brown

• Zone 3-4 (Mid/Low Tide Zone)

Spindle Shaped Rockweed

Type: Brown

• Zone 3-4 (Mid/Low Tide Zone)

Sargassum

Type: Brown

• Zone 3-4 (Mid/Low Tide Zone)

Surf Grass

• Zone 4 (Low tide zone)

Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation

F=m1m2/r²

• Two high tides and two low tides per day (6 hours)

  • Moon – Small but very close – large effect

  • Sun – Large but very far away – small effect

Spring Tides

1. Extreme tides

2. direct alignment alignment between sun, earth, moon

Neap Tides

1. Lower tide variation

2. 90 degree angle between sun, earth, and moon

Tidal Cycles

1. Set of spring tides every two weeks

2. Set of neap tides in between spring tides

ZONE 1 (Splash Zone)

5.0 feet and more above sea level

ZONE 2 (High Tide Zone)

2.5 to 5.0 feet above seal level

ZONE 3 (Middle Tide Zone)

0.0 to 2.5 feet above seal level

ZONE 4 (Low Tide Zone)

Below sea level