Intertidal ecology

Intertidal ecology is the study of <a href="/facts/Intertidal_zone/grnBDVQ3">intertidal</a> <a href="/facts/Ecosystem/kVE8mSmR">ecosystems</a>, where organisms live between the low and high <a href="/facts/Tide/zNstvWPv">tide</a> lines. At low tide, the intertidal is exposed whereas at high tide, the intertidal is underwater. Intertidal <a href="/facts/Ecologist/YE8upuJU">ecologists</a> therefore study the interactions between intertidal organisms and their environment, as well as between <a href="/facts/Biological_interaction/uhcg3EaM">different species</a> of intertidal organisms within a particular intertidal community. The most important environmental and species interactions may vary based on the type of intertidal community being studied, the broadest of classifications being based on substrates—<a href="/facts/Rocky_shore/fD4T7Lrp">rocky shore</a> and soft bottom communities.
Organisms living in this zone have a highly variable and often hostile environment, and have evolved various <a href="/facts/Adaptation/5K2gNpDB">adaptations</a> to cope with and even exploit these conditions. One easily visible feature of intertidal communities is <a href="/facts/Vertical_zonation/grnBDVQ3">vertical zonation</a>, where the community is divided into distinct vertical bands of specific species going up the shore. Species ability to cope with <a href="/facts/Abiotic_stress/pGeXIBDU">abiotic factors</a> associated with emersion stress, such as <a href="/facts/Desiccation/X6IUsM3R">desiccation</a> determines their upper limits, while <a href="/facts/Biotic_component/fzEc9c8k">biotic</a> interactions e.g.<a href="/facts/Competition_(biology)/3xN0IynL">competition</a> with other species sets their lower limits.
Intertidal regions are <a href="/facts/Exploitation_of_natural_resources/YUmAXsEg">utilized</a> by humans for food and recreation, but anthropogenic actions also have major impacts, with <a href="/facts/Overexploitation/35n60afL">overexploitation</a>, <a href="/facts/Invasive_species/Ya1v6RGx">invasive species</a> and <a href="/facts/Global_warming/rEN4BDE7">climate change</a> being among the problems faced by intertidal communities. In some places <a href="/facts/Marine_Protected_Area/opJ0gavz">Marine Protected Areas</a> have been established to protect these areas and aid in <a href="/facts/Scientific_research/182j8RWE">scientific research</a>.

Intertidal ecology open-in-new

Intertidal ecology