The Intertidal Zone Flashcards
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Questions and Answers

What is the intertidal zone?

The coastal area above water at low tide and under water at high tide.

What are the characteristics of the intertidal zone?

  • No life present
  • Consistent temperature
  • Exposed to dry air during low tide (correct)
  • Covered with water during high tide (correct)

    • List the 2 types of intertidal zones.

    Sandy shore, Rocky shore

    What 2 things have the greatest effect on intertidal zones?

    <p>Waves and tides</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are tides?

    <p>Alternate rising and falling of the sea</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the splash zone?

    <p>The area where at high tide, waves crash.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are rocky shores?

    <p>An intertidal area of seacoasts where solid rock predominates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of the rocky intertidal zone?

    <p>Tide pools</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Most organisms in the intertidal are freshwater.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does it mean that the intertidal zone has a lot of biomass?

    <p>There is a lot of food available.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does the intertidal zone have a high amount of biomass?

    <p>High sunlight and lots of nitrate and phosphate, which are good for algae nutrients.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can waves affect organisms?

    <p>Waves can affect organisms if they are not attached.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where does the wave force have the highest effect?

    <p>Rocky intertidal zone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are abiotic factors?

    <p>Tides, waves, little/no oxygen, little light, dense, sediment types.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are two causes of the tides?

    <p>Gravitational pull of the moon and sun, the rotation of the earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When is the tide the highest?

    <p>When the sun and the moon align.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When is the tide the lowest?

    <p>When the sun and the moon are perpendicular.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are two effects of the tides?

    <p>Exposes and submerges from coastline, drives circulation of bays and estuaries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the most common type of producer found in rocky tide pool areas?

    <p>Algae</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are stressors for organisms in the rocky shore?

    <p>Overheating, wave shock, cold.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some adaptations for overheating and drying out?

    <p>Large body, light color, accumulate in large clumps, close shells at low tide, move down as tide retreats.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are adaptations for wave shock?

    <p>Compressed or flattened bodies, adhere tightly to rock.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are tide pool stressors?

    <p>Water loses oxygen as it heats, salinity may change, oxygen in tide pools containing algae may change.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are tide pools?

    <p>A pool of water remaining on a reef or beach after the tide has receded.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some examples of tide pool organisms?

    <p>Algae, starfish, anemones, urchins, sea cucumbers, barnacles.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Intertidal Zone Overview

    • The intertidal zone is the coastal area immersed underwater during high tide and exposed to air during low tide.
    • It experiences varying conditions due to tidal movements and wave action.

    Characteristics of the Intertidal Zone

    • Covered with water at high tide, providing a marine environment.
    • Exposed to dry air at low tide, creating unique survival challenges for organisms.

    Types of Intertidal Zones

    • Sandy shore: Composed primarily of sand, offering different habitats and species.
    • Rocky shore: Characterized by solid rock, hosting various organisms adapted to harsh conditions.

    Influencing Factors

    • Waves and tides are the main factors impacting the intertidal zone, affecting habitat dynamics and organism availability.

    Tides

    • Tides result from the gravitational pull of the moon and sun combined with Earth's rotation, causing the sea to alternate between rising and falling.

    Splash Zone

    • This area is where waves crash during high tide, affecting organisms' survival and habitat structure.

    Rocky Shores

    • Rocky shores are intertidal zones dominated by solid rock, serving as a habitat for diverse marine life.

    Rocky Intertidal Zone Example

    • Tide pools are found in rocky intertidal areas, providing unique ecosystems.

    Organism Types

    • Organisms in the intertidal zone are primarily marine, as opposed to freshwater.

    Biomass in the Intertidal Zone

    • High biomass indicates abundant food sources resulting from photosynthesis and nutrient availability.

    Nutritional Dynamics

    • High sunlight levels and the presence of nitrates and phosphates support high levels of algae growth, crucial for the food web.

    Wave Impact

    • Organisms not attached to surfaces can be adversely affected by wave action, especially in rocky intertidal zones.

    Abiotic Factors

    • Key abiotic factors include tides, waves, oxygen availability, light levels, density, and sediment types, all influencing organism survival.

    Tidal Cycles

    • The highest tides occur when the sun and moon align, while the lowest tides occur when they are perpendicular to each other.

    Tidal Effects

    • Tides expose and submerge coastlines and drive the circulation of bays and estuaries.

    Dominant Producers

    • Algae are the most common producers found in rocky tide pool areas, playing a crucial role in the ecosystem.

    Stressors for Rocky Shore Organisms

    • Key stressors include overheating, wave shock, and temperature fluctuations leading to harsh living conditions.

    Adaptations to Environmental Stress

    • Organisms develop adaptations to minimize overheating and desiccation, such as large body sizes, light coloration, clumping behavior, and retreats to lower areas.

    Wave Shock Adaptations

    • Organisms exhibit flattened or compressed body shapes and strong adhesion to rocks to withstand wave forces.

    Tide Pool Dynamics

    • Tide pools can experience rapid changes in oxygen levels, salinity, temperature, and pH when tides return, challenging the organisms within.

    Tide Pool Definition

    • Tide pools are bodies of water that remain on reefs or beaches after tides recede, creating unique microhabitats.

    Tide Pool Organisms

    • Common organisms include algae, starfish, anemones, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and barnacles, each adapted to tide pool conditions.

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    Description

    Test your knowledge of the intertidal zone with these flashcards. Learn about its definition, characteristics, and types through a series of question-and-answer formats. Perfect for students studying coastal ecology.

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