Intertidal Intertidal Zone area between high and low

Intertidal

Intertidal Zone = area between high and low tide ©Deryk Tolman

Intertidal zone = between high tide and low tide

Waves Predators ©Graham Cook ©Dynamosquito Challenges of living in the intertidal zone ©Keryn Gedan ©Clara Chew Moisture Salt Temperature

Why Live Here? FOOD OXYGEN HIDING SPOTS

Adaptations of Organisms What adaptations have you seen that help organisms to: Protect themselves from waves and currents? ©Jerry Kirkhart Protect themselves from predators? Keep from drying out? ©Stonebird

Adaptations of Organisms How would a creature in a sandy environment protect itself from waves and predators? Source: http: //www. asnailsodyssey. com/LEARNABOUT/SHRIMP/shri. Envi. php How would an organism in a rocky environment protect itself from waves and predators? ©Roberto Verzo

©Isabel ©USFWS – Pacific Region Plant or Animal? ©Ingrid Taylar ©Aurel ©pfly

Plants vs. Seaweeds ©Eric Heupel (most) Plants: • Photosynthesize • Have roots • Absorb moisture and nutrients through roots • Have leaves • Have stems • Reproduce by seed (most) Seaweeds: • Photosynthesize • Have holdfasts • Absorb moisture and nutrients along whole surface • Have blades • Have stipes • Reproduce by spores

Why is Eelgrass so important? • Provides food and habitat for many creatures, including Dungeness Crab, juvenile Salmon, Pacific Herring and many others • Produces oxygen • Absorbs CO₂ • Prevents erosion ©NOAA Photo Library

Purple Star (Ochre Star) ©bibliomaniac 15 ©Liza

Purple Shore Crab ©Dan Hershman

Male or Female Crab? Male Female

Guidelines for Intertidal Exploration 1) Be careful 2) Be respectful 3) Wash your hands before handling anything 4) Handle creatures gently, and only for a short time 5) Don’t turn over rocks bigger than your head 6) Always gently place organisms and rocks back where you found them 7) Don’t take anything off of the beach ©Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington

This education resource was produced by the Mayne Island Conservancy Society thanks to the financial support of: