As the plants and microscopic organisms are consumed, the energy eventually travels up the food chain to migratory fish that stop by during high tide and coastal birds that take advantage of the exposure during low tide. The combination of algae, seaweed, and a constant influx of nutrients and phytoplankton from the incoming tides means rockpools are loaded with food to support a multitude of organisms.

One of the most dynamic services rock pools provide is supporting both oceanic and terrestrial food webs. Tide pools are excellent nursery habitats for juvenile fish and provide coastal protection as well as educational opportunities for people of all ages! Rock pools are important ecosystems for a variety of reasons. Researchers are trying to recreate it in the laboratory for commercial use! Some fish, like the sculpin and young opaleyes, have evolved the ability to breathe air, allowing them to survive in oxygen-poor water when the tide is out. Barnacles even have a DIY super-glue mucus, that is actually one of the most powerful glue substances known to man. Mussels and barnacles cluster together to reduce individual exposure, increasing their protection from predators. Hard-shelled organisms are able to seal their shells so tightly, they avoid losing any moisture during low tide. However, hard times are what create interesting evolutionary innovations, so the life found in tide pools are some of the scrappiest organisms in the sea. As the tide goes out, life in tide pools is exposed to more predators, such as sea birds, or gets swept out into the open ocean and stranded until the tide comes back in. For instance, exposure to sunlight easily dries up moisture, increases temperature, decreases oxygen, and changes salinity levels, all variants that dramatically influence life in the oceans. What makes life hard for the other areas of a tide pool is the constant change of environmental conditions. There is also abundant algae and plants and ample habitat from all the crevices, rocks, and holes. Some of the aspects that make life easier in the low intertidal zone is that there is almost always abundant food, nutrients, and oxygen as every wave during high tide supplies fresh nutrients and plankton which supports the pool’s food web. Most life is found in the low intertidal zone, which normally remains underwater even when the tide is out. Conditions are almost constantly changing, so organisms that reside here need to be flexible in their requirements and hardy in their responses.

Life in the intertidal zone is a bit more difficult than one might imagine. This area is always covered in water and is where more invertebrates and even fish are found. Subtidal zone: The deepest point of a rock pool is the subtidal zone. It’s more likely to see snails, crabs, sea stars, and more anemones here. Next is the mid-zone and low-zone, which host more life as deepness, water, food, and shelter increase. The high-zone is closest to the splash zone, this is where barnacles, snails, crabs, and the periodic anemone are found. Consisting of three regions, this zone has a lot to offer. It’s sort of like the goldilocks zone of rockpools spending part of the day underwater, and part exposed.

Intertidal zone: The intertidal zone lies between the splash zone & the subtidal zone. Unsurprisingly, the only life found here is the occasional barnacle and some algae. The only water that is present here is the occasional splash or mist from the sea, resulting in extremely harsh conditions like constant sun exposure, high temperatures, increased salinity levels and constant moisture loss. Splash zone: This zone is the furthest from the ocean, making it the hardest zone to live in. While species might be commonly found throughout nearby pools, each pool has its own unique ecology with varying dominant species and available resources.Īll tide pools consist of three zones: splash zone, intertidal zone, and subtidal zone. Each pool is its own microcosm, a mini world filled with incredible life, some of which are permanent residents and others come and go with the tides.

Tidal pool food web