Tidal Water Ecosystems By Alice & Anna. Tide & Shore Ecosystems By Sam Fitz, eHow Contributor Among some of the most physically stressful environments,

Tidal Water EcosystemsBy Alice & Anna

Tide & Shore EcosystemsBy Sam Fitz, eHow Contributor

Among some of the most physically stressful environments, tide and shore ecosystems exist in a variety of conditions around the world. Despite the

stress, life survives because it has undergone beneficial adaptations to thrive in the conditions it is exposed to.

Therefore, understanding the tide and shore ecosystem means understanding the conditions of the habitat and

the beneficial adaptations of the plants and animals there that allow them to thrive in those conditions.

Intertidal and Pioneer Zones

Within sandy shores there are four general zones. The intertidal zone, or tidepool, exists between high and low tide. Only versatile

life can exist here because it must be able to endure extended periods of being submerged underwater and roasting in salty, hot,

inhospitable sand. In this area small holes in the sand represent doorways to the homes of many creatures, like sea worms and sand crabs, seeking refuge from the blazing sun during low tide.

Other animals of the intertidal zone include sand fleas, anemones, shellfish and sea urchins. Slightly inland from the tide pools, the pioneer zone harbors plants that grow in loose, shifting

sand. They are primarily low-growing vine plants, like saltwort, goat's food and sea purslane.

Organisms That Live in the Lower & Middle Intertidal Zones By Sally Taylor, eHow Contributor

Intertidal zones, also known as littoral zones, are coastal ocean waters where tides change water depth or uncover land for periods of time each day. They are harsh environments for

organisms, which must adapt to being immersed in air, pounded by wave waters, and exposed to extreme temperature changes

and water turbidity. Organisms that live in these areas have developed means of survival in these ever-changing habitats.

Plants That Live in Tide PoolsBy Monica Wachman, eHow Contributor

Tide pools are mini worlds of life. They have plants and animals that must be hardy enough to withstand the ebb and flow of the tides and the decrease in water level that can leave them exposed to the air. Plants that do well in tide pools are those with firm anchors that keep them from getting washed away.

Seagrasses

Seagrasses grow well in tide pools because they need shallow water in which to grow. These plants need light so they can

photosynthesize and create oxygen. They are the only flowering plants, or angiosperms, that live underwater. The seagrasses are

related to the ginger and lily family of plants, rather than the grass family.

Seagrasses are found on coastlines on many of the world's continents and provide both shelter for small marine mammals and a source of food for others. These plants stabilize sediment.

This is helpful in a tide pool, since the action of the changing tides might otherwise wash away the bottom layers of the pool.

Green Algae

There are more than 7,000 types of green algae. These seaweeds contain the same amount of the green chemical chlorophyll as land

plants and are very efficient in the production of oxygen. Green algae do very well in tide pools because they need shallow water

and sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis.One of the species of green algae seen in tide pools is the sea

lettuce, which is thin and translucent. Gutweed is another and has green tubes that look like they have been flattened. Dead man's

fingers are dark green algae that have blades that fan out like fingers. These algae prefer the middle to sub-tidal coastal zones.

Brown AlgaeBrown algae do quite well in tide pools. Their tissues contain an

acid that absorbs water. This keeps the plant structures from drying out during the low tide periods. Brown algae are

frequently harvested for use in cosmetics, paper and various food products. They are also used in waterproofing and as a

fireproofing agent in paper and fabrics.One species of brown algae is the sea potato. Found on the eastern and western coasts of North America, this plant has

hollow sacks that are roughly 2 inches wide and look like small potatoes. The sea palm looks like a miniature palm tree and

grows up to 2 feet tall. It has a strong anchor system, can withstand the pounding of the surf and can be found along the

Pacific coast from Central California to British Columbia.

Animals That Depend on Tides for SurvivalBy Sarah Fardell, eHow Contributor

The tide is the rise and fall of the sea as it is affected by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. We do not

tend to think much about the tides. Certainly not about their role in keeping certain animals alive. Yet, they play a

critical role not only in the lives of fish but of creatures great and small all over the planet.

Marine Life

Many fish depend on the tide to feed. Fish around coastal areas wait on the tide to wash smaller fish out to sea or to pull them into areas

where food is abundant. For example, on the southern U.S. coast, the high tide floods rivers and marshlands with more than a foot of

water. Crabs and fish use this opportunity to feed on smaller fish and water creatures that live in the marshlands. At low tide, oyster

rocks and tide pools are exposed, also allowing crabs to feed.

Tide Pool Creatures

Tide pools are rock formations that are filled and emptied of water depending on the tide. There are sometimes hundreds of creatures living in a single pool. These creatures depend on the sea water for nutrients, protection and to move about. At low tide, many of these creatures are exposed to the air, leaving them at risk of predator attacks and oxygen depletion. The whole eco-system of the tide pools would simply not exist

without the constant movement of the tides.

Birds

Many seabirds also catch fish depending on the tides. Many fish migratory patterns depend on the tides as do

some of their feeding patterns. Birds have discovered this and, like fisherman, will follow the tides to catch fish.

Sea Turtles

In many parts of the world, thousands of female sea turtles propel themselves ashore during high tide to lay their many eggs in the sand. When the babies hatch, the

tiny turtles scramble down to the surf, the tidewater washing them into the ocean. The sheer number of baby

turtles ensures that at least a few will make it to adulthood.

Organisms Found in Tide PoolsBy Tonya Yirka, eHow Contributor

www.ehow.com/list_7620807_organisms-found-tide-pools.html#ixzz279b0nOHK

Biology Online defines organism as "An individual living thing that can react to stimuli, reproduce, grow, and maintain homeostasis. It can be a virus, bacterium,

protist, fungus, plant or animal." With this definition in mind tide pools, those large or small, deep or shallow puddles on rocks that fill with saltwater when the tide

comes in, teem with many types of organisms.

Viruses & Bacteria

Viruses such as the rinderpest virus have been found in tide pools.

Bacteria such as Cyanobacteria can be found in conjunction with fungi on and in rock strata found in tide pools and produce nitrogen. Rhodabacterales, a group of Proteobacteria can also be found on rock in

tide pools.

Protists

The microorganisms such as "protozoa" and micro "algae" are called protists, abound in tide pools and are primary consumer and producers in the marine food chain. They

also recycle detritus materials and biomass.

Fungi

Black meristematic fungi are found on the rocky bottoms of tide pools. They bore into the rock and cause the rock

to crumble.Lichens are combinations of algal partners called

phycobionts and a fungal partners called mycobionts and live in the spray/splash zones of tidal pools. (These are

the areas which only get flooded by the storm waves and the highest tides.)