Marine Science Intertidal Zone Study Guide

Hermit crab

Intertidal Zone

Kingsnake

Estuaries

Grunion

Sandy Beach

Sally Lightfoot

Sandy Beach

California Least Tern

Estuaries

Razor Clam

Sandy Beach

Mussel

Intertidal Zone

Pickleweed

Estuaries

Pacific Mole Crab

Sandy Beach

Cordgrass

Estuaries

Egret

Estuaries

Sandpiper

Sandy Beach

California slender salamander

Estuaries

Limpet

Splash/spray zone & High Intertidal

• Mollusca

Rock louse/sea slater

Splash/spray

• Chordata

Periwinkle

Splay/spray zone

• Mollysca

Abalone

Mid Intertidal

• Mollusca

Buckshot barnacle

High Intertidal

• Arthropod

Gooseneck barnacle

Mid Intertidal

• Arthropod

Mussel

Mid Intertidal

• Mollusca

Anemone

Low Intertidal

• Cnideria

Nudibranch

Low Intertidal

• Mollusca

Shore Crab

High Intertidal

• Arthropoda

Rocky Intertidal Zone

Characteristics:

• High on beach

• Out of water

Adaptations:

• Must tolerate salt spray

• Heat,cold, extended dryness

Sandy Beaches

Characteristics:

• No stable fixed surfaces to live

• Sand holds water

Adaptations:

• Most organisms have hard protective shells

• Burrowing into sand

  • Light colored animals reflect heat

Estuaries

Characteristics:

• Where river meets sea

• brackish water

Adaptations:

• Salt lovers (halophytes

• Adapted to salt

• Bodies have same salt concentration as environment (conformer)

Summer Beach

• Low tide allows for berm to build up

• Smaller & well-sorted

Winter Beach

• High tide erodes the berm

• Deposit larger sediment