South Africa

PENGUINS!!!!!!



Colony of Jackass Penguins in South America

General Info on Intertidal Zones

Range  

Coastlines worldwide

Habitat

The intertidal zone ecosytem is generally broken down into 4 areas.

The Spray Zone (or Supratidal Zone -- above the tide zone): This zone is high up on the beach above where even the high tide reaches. But it does get sprayed by big waves and flooded during storms and unusually high tides. Not much wildlife or plant life survives here. It is like a desert. You can sometimes find some small barnacles and marine lichen.

The High Tide Zone (or Upper Mid-littoral Zone): This zone is underwater only when the tide is high. It is a very salty area, as small pools are left when the tide goes out and they evaporate leaving the salt to collect. You can find sea anemones, crabs, starfish, snails, limpets, barnacles and mussels.

The Middle Tide Zone (or Lower Mid-littoral Zone): This zone spends half its time under water and half its time in the open air. This zone gets the fiercest wave action. This is where you start to see seaweed. Wildlife in the middle tide zone includes: sea anemones, crabs, starfish, snails, limpets, barnacles, mussels, sponges, shrimp, chitons, sea urchins and green algae.

The Low Tide Zone (or Lower Littoral Zone): This zone is mostly underwater. It gets dry only for a short time during low tide. There are tons of wildlife in this zone. You can find lots of seaweeds, sea anemones, crabs, starfish, snails, limpets, barnacles, mussels, sponges, shrimp, chitons, sea urchins, abalone, sea slugs, sea cucumbers and green algae.

Organisms

Animals
You can find sea anemones, crabs, starfish, snails, limpets, barnacles, mussels, sponges, shrimp, chitons, sea urchins, abalone, sea slugs, sea cucumbers, periwinkles, octopus, and small fish.

  

Plants
You will find seaweed and green algae.

Reserva Nacional de Paracas - Peru, South America

Intertidal Zones in Australia

Acadia National Park - Maine, U.S.A.

With over forty miles of rocky shoreline, Acadia National Park possesses a tremendously rich intertidal flora and fauna. Twice daily, the nutrient-rich marine waters cover these plants and animals. However, during the lower stages of the 10- to 12-foot tidal range, the ocean leaves behind pools of water inhabited by sea stars, dog whelks, blue mussels, sea cucumbers, rockweed, and other creatures and plants. Tidepooling is a fun way to explore these areas.

The coastal ocean waters surrounding Acadia are home to countless other animals, from clams and sea urchins to the commercially-prized lobster. Gulls and other seabirds wheel overhead, and marine mammals such as seals, whales, and porpoises often frequent the area. In the Gulf of Maine, species ranging from tiny phytoplankton to large fish make up the diverse yet precarious food web.