The low intertidal zone has the greatest biodiversity compared to both high and middle intertidal zones. It is widely known as the seashore. Organisms in this area include anemones, barnacles, chitons, crabs, green algae, isopods, limpets, mussels, sea lettuce, sea … Sandy shores provide sediments in which organisms bury themselves to stay cool and moist during low tide. The intertidal zone provides habitat to a variety of animal species, such as mollusks, crustaceans, worms, some species of coral and algae. Middle Intertidal Zone: This region is submerged under water most of the day, except during low tide. Intertidal zones of rocky shorelines host sea stars, snails, seaweed, algae, and crabs. Dictated by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun, the tides predictably flow in and out daily creating a low, high, and middle tidal zone. Biotic Factors of the intertidal zone. The low intertidal zone, which borders on the shallow subtidal zone, is only exposed to air at the lowest … The intertidal zone or “littoral zone” is the term used to describe the seashore which is covered during high tide and exposed during low tide, revealing a unique biome which survives under such fluctuating conditions (see below). Some of the plants that live in the intertidal zone have special adaptations for living in such a changing area. The zone is completely submerged by the tide once or twice every day. Zone – You can t live outside of your environment • Biological interactions – Determines lower limit of organisms in each Zone – You won t last long where your predator lives Algae and other encrusting organisms are indicators of biotic zonation. This ecosystem also provides protection against erosion and keeps storm waves from reaching buildings along the shore. This region is also called the seashore and foreshore, and sometimes the littoral zone. In other words, it is the zone lying between the high tide mark and the low tide mark. Generally, organisms in this region are not properly suited to temperature extremes or periods of dryness. Each of these zones maintains a unique community waiting for you to explore. Zone wherever two clones meet. The ocean intertidal zone is prone to changes in its structure. The intertidal zone is an ecosystem found on marine shorelines, where a multitude of organisms living on the shore survive changes between high and low tides. It is a highly saline zone, making life for most aquatic plants difficult. If The Intertidal Zone is around a Rainforest it is mostly likely in a Tropical zone. You will often find them high up on shore out of water. Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Society, Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society Choloryphyta (The Green Algae) These species are stringy and sometimes form a "lettuce"-like structure, though each species are somewhat distinct in their morphology. Whelks or dogwinkles Dogwinkles are predators on barnacles and mussels. Barnacles, mussels, and kelps can survive in this environment by anchoring themselves to the rocks. intertidal fauna Gezeitenfauna {f}biol.ecol. The spray zone is far up on the beach and does not include the high tide zone. - The Rockweed Zone (or Middle Zone) - The Irish Moss Zone (or Lower Zone) - The Kelp Zone (or Subtidal Zone) - The climate zones can vary as well. Number of individuals, after 30 days, on rocks transplanted to the middle intertidal zone. Privacy Notice |  Zone Algae Rockweed, Knotted Wrack Zone Animals Blue Mussel, Green Crab, Green Sea Urchin, Tortoiseshell Limpet, Asian Shore Crab A biotic factor is any living component that affects another organism, including animals that consume the organism in question, and the living food that the organism consumes. The middle tide zone is submerged and exposed for equal amounts of time. The intertidal zone is divided into four distinct regions: This zone will occasionally be sprayed by incoming waves and is covered by water only during unusually high tides or storms. The regular rise and fall of the ocean’s waters are known as tides. all the different kinds of living organisms within a given area. The intertidal zone, also known as the foreshore or seashore, is the area above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide (in other words, the area within the tidal range). They have to bear the great physical impact of waves, desiccation, and sunlight. This ecosystem is rife with research opportunities for marine researchers like National Geographic grantee Swapnale Gole, who studies the behavior of sea anemones, crustaceans, and fish in the intertidal zones of the Andaman Islands in India. It is also called littoral zone. Which of the following usually dominates in the middle intertidal zone of a rocky shoreline? The lower limit of the intertidal zone is the average high tide. The intertidal zone can be divided into four subzones, including the spray zone, the high tide zone, the middle tide zone, and the low tide zone. Marine ecosystems contain a diverse array of living organisms and abiotic processes. • The gravitational pull of the moon and the rotational force of the Earth cause tides to rise and fall across the planet. This zone is covered with water part of the time and exposed to air part of the time. There are three different groups of algal species that inhabit the intertidal zone. The intertidal zone can be further divided into three zones: high tide, middle tide, and low tide. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. This zone will occasionally be sprayed by incoming waves and … The organisms that inhabit this region are small and uncomplicated because of intermittent supply of water at this region. In the intertidal zone the most common organisms are small and most are relatively uncomplicated organisms Students discuss what they learned about the splash zone and upper intertidal zone. Barnacles and mussels can also hold seawater in their closed shells to keep from drying out during low tide. Some of the plants that inhabit the intertidal zone are seagrass, dead man's fingers, nori, the seagrape tree, and eelgrass. This habitat is covered with water at high tide and exposed to air at low tide. It is located on marine coastlines, including rocky shores and sandy beaches. Some species live further up the shore and closer to the high tide line, while others live further down the shore, closer the low tide line. The high tide zone is only submerged at high tide and is hotter and drier as a result. Middle tide zone: The part of the seashore covered by the semidiurnal tides twice a day (see the article on tides). A tide pool within Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The intertidal zone is hence an environment where seawater and air are interchanged repeatedly from the constant breaking and receding of waves. The intertidal zone is the area on a beach situated between the high tide and the low tide. Life in the Intertidal Zone. Along most shores, the intertidal zone can be clearly separated into the following subzones: high tide zone, middle tide zone, and low tide zone. There is so much to know about the intertidal zone as it is one of the marine environments that holds a great amount of biodiversity. The region is mainly underwater, teeming with life. Low intertidal zone: virtually always underwater except during the lowest of springtides. Other critters may use these anemone-free areas to travel through the Mid Tide Zone. A strong holdfast anchors the sea palm enabling it to withstand the pounding surf of the middle intertidal zone. lowest tide. Terms of Service |  region between the high and low tide of an area. Most of the Intertidal Zones are scattered in the Temperate Zone. Use this pocket guide to help you in your adventure and discover the amazing animals that call the intertidal home. National Geographic Headquarters It has four distinct physical subdivisions based on the amount of exposure each gets -- the spray zone, and the high, middle, and lower intertidal zones. The low tide zone is only exposed during low tide and has the greatest biodiversity of the three zones because it provides more favorable conditions for those organisms that cannot tolerate air exposure for long. Light penetration is also high therefore permitting significant photosynthetic activity for the plants. The low zone is the area exposed to … The Intertidal zone is divided into four separate zones: spray zone, high tide zone, middle tide zone, and low tide zone. Three species are common on the intertidal coast. We don't have to do DNA analysis to know there are two (or more) clones present on the intertidal rocks. intertidal coast Gezeitenküste {f}geogr. Mud snails, mud fiddler crabs, slipper snails, razor clams, rockweed, Spartina alterniflora and ribbed mussels inhabit middle intertidal areas, each having specific adaptations to this unstable and turbulent region. The intertidal zone is an extreme ecosystem because it constantly experiences drastic changes. This fact makes the salinity to be only slightly higher than in the ocean levels. The intertidal zone can be further divided into three zones: high tide, middle tide, and low tide. Code of Ethics. While conditions in the intertidal zone can be extreme, it is home to many living things and is also an important feeding spot for both resident and migrating birds. 2013), I made clearings (100-cm 2 quadrats) of the natural rocky substrate at each location in late April: 8 at the high intertidal zone (except at Western Head, where I made 6 clearings) and 8 at the middle intertidal zone. 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. By Samuel Kinuthia on January 10 2018 in Environment. What is the middle intertidal zone? It has four distinct physical subdivisions based on the amount of exposure each gets -- the spray zone, and the high, middle, and lower intertidal zones. Use this lesson plan to introduce students to the intertidal zone. c) The intertidal zone can be in turn divided into a low, middle and high intertidal zones. The middle intertidal zone is regularly covered by water. The Middle Intertidal Zone The middle intertidal zone can accommodate more life than the upper intertidal zone due to its length of time that it is submerged in water. Animals present in this area include anemones, barnacles, crabs, mussels, sea stars, gastropods and sponges. The 10 Coldest Cities In The United States. Question 2 of 25 The particular characteristic most widely used in classifying intertidal communities is which of the following? If The Intertidal Zone is around a Rainforest it is mostly likely in a Tropical zone. Intertidal zones richer in sediments are filled with different species of clams, sand dollars, and worms. lowest tide. Sometimes it is referred to as the littoral zone, although that can be defined as a wider region. The subdivision into the three zones depends on exposure to air. Occasionally there are rains which saturate them in fresh water. This area can include several types of habitats with various species of life, such as seastars, sea urchins, and many species of coral. The Intertidal zone is divided into four separate zones: spray zone, high tide zone, middle tide zone, and low tide zone. The intertidal zone is defined as the area between the high tide and low tide mark. Sustainability Policy |  The littoral or intertidal zone of the marine-terrestrial ecotone can be subdivided in: • Supralittoral (or upper intertidal): Zone that is only reached by spray of saltwater. - The Barnacle Zone (or Upper Zone) - The Rockweed Zone (or Middle Zone) - The Irish Moss Zone (or Lower Zone) - The Kelp Zone (or Subtidal Zone) - The climate zones can vary as well. Organisms that live in the intertidal zone tend to form their own communities across the zone’s elevation gradient. As adjectives the difference between intertidal and subtidal is that intertidal is pertaining to the part of a shore between the high water and the low water while subtidal is below the level of the tide. The organisms worry less about desiccation. Plants found in the middle intertidal zone are Rockweed, Fir Needle, Sea Palm, and Tar Spot. The hermit crab is predominant in this zone, having its own movable shell capable of carrying water. The intertidal zone is the area of the shore that lies between the highest normal high tide and the lowest normal low tide. intertidal {adj} in der Gezeitenzone lebend zwischen Hoch- und Niedrigwasser lebend [Gezeiten] intertidal (zone) Gezeitenbereich {m}geol.hydro. More types of organisms live in the middle inter-tidal zone than in either of the zones that are farther from the water. It can be further subdivided into: high tide zone or high littoral zone; middle tide zone or mid-littoral zone; low intertidal zone or lower littoral zone From massive marine mammals like whales to the tiny krill that form the bottom of the food chain, all life in the ocean is interconnected. The organisms in this zone vary, but in greater quantity. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. The presence of predators and species that compete for the same space and food also impact where an organism will be found. Wave action easily washes away poorly suited organisms, exposure to sun makes temperatures either too high for survival or near freezing, and salinity is much higher due to evaporation of water from rock pools leaving behind salt. All rights reserved. The intertidal zone consists of four regions: the lower intertidal, middle intertidal, upper intertidal, and spray zone, which according to the Environmental Protection Agency “differ depending on tidal and wave exposure and life within the zone.” Each region experiences daily changes in moisture, water movement, temperature and salinity, but in varying degrees. In comparison, the middle intertidal zone is covered and uncovered by sea water twice a day for an equal period of time. intertidal zone Strandzone {f} Litoralzone {f} Gezeitenzone {f} Life is more abundant there because of the protection provided by the water. Where a species lives within the intertidal zone depends on its tolerance of underwater and above-water conditions. average middle tide. • Eulittoral (or middle intertidal): Zone that twice a day, on the average, falls dry during low tides and is submerged during high tides. They have to bear the great physical impact of waves, desiccation, and sunlight. Anything living in the intertidal zone must be able to survive changes in moisture, temperature, and salinity and withstand strong waves. to move from one place or activity to another. This region is also shielded from predating animals such as large fish due to wave action and the shallow waters. The intertidal zone is the zone between the high tide and low tide, also referred to as the foreshore, seashore, or littoral zone. They are not likely to survive in very harsh conditions. The three areas that makeup the intertidal zone are the low, middle, and high zones. The animals and plants that live in this zone must cope with being submerged in water and exposed to the air during different times of day. Use this pocket guide to help you in your adventure and discover the amazing animals that call the intertidal home. There is a lot of life here! average middle tide. The lower part of the intertidal is more marine in character (it is only exposed briefly during the lowest of low tides), and the upper intertidal is more terrestrial in character (it is only inundated by the water at high tides). The intertidal zone, also known as the littoral zone, in marine aquatic environments is the area of the foreshore and seabed that is exposed to the air at low tide and submerged at high tide, ie the area between tide marks. Examples of organisms inhabiting low intertidal zone are sea stars, brown seaweed, shrimp, surf grass, whelks, and chitons. The intertidal zone is the zone between the high tide and low tide, also referred to as the foreshore, seashore, or littoral zone. The intertidal zone, also known as the foreshore or seashore, is the area that is above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide (in other words, the area within the tidal range).This area can include several types of habitats with various species of life, such as starfish, sea urchins, and many species of coral. None of the above choices are correct: it varies according to type of substrate. Gooseneck Barnacles G. Anderson Gooseneck barnacles, scientific name Pollicipes polymerus, have the characteristics of the more common volcano-type barnacles (like the buckshot and Balanus), in that they are also filter feeders, capable of living rather high in the intertidal, being hermaphroditic, cross fertilizers, and having numerous planktonic larvae. They are divided up based on overall average exposure of the area. Zone – You can t live outside of your environment • Biological interactions – Determines lower limit of organisms in each Zone – You won t last long where your predator lives Algae and other encrusting organisms are indicators of biotic zonation. The intertidal zone is the most temporally and spatially variable of all marine habitats. This zone often includes more than one habitat, including wetlands and rocky cliffs. The land in this zone can be rocky, sandy, or covered in mudflats. Caught in the middle of the physical clash between land and sea is the highly dynamic ecosystem of the rocky intertidal zone. act in which earth is worn away, often by water, wind, or ice. Procedure Part One 1. Marine biologists divide this region into three regions which are low, middle, and high intertidal zones. The high intertidal zone is only covered by the highest of the high tides, and spends much of its time as terrestrial habitat. This is for a variety of reasons; firstly the supply of water which marine organisms require to survive is intermittent. The organisms can grow to greater sizes given the available energy in their ecosystem. Plants in the lower intertidal zone include winged kelp and all the plants listed in the middle intertidal zone. This region is also called the seashore and foreshore, and sometimes the littoral zone. Temperatures here are less severe due to limited direct exposure to the sun. Barnacles. slope or degree to which an object rises. There are lots of moving rocks and sediment in the water which can damage small critters. Fact #3 – The Intertidal Zone Has Three Regions. The lower intertidal zone is the lowest part of the beach. The intertidal zone ecosytem is generally broken down into 4 areas. It ranges from sand and mud flats to rocky reefs and allows the development of … solid material transported and deposited by water, ice, and wind. She or he will best know the preferred format. Seaweeds begin to become more prominent in this area. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. This is due to its nature and the moving waves. Salinity is also close to normal level all of which favor marine organisms. They are the Chlorophyta (green algae), Rhotophyta (red algae), and Phaeophyta (the brown algae). Along most shores, the intertidal zone can be clearly separated into the following subzones: high tide zone, middle tide zone, and low tide zone. The low intertidal zone is only exposed at a point of low tide and sometimes for even longer when the tide is extremely low. The lower intertidal zone is usually submerged, only being exposed at very low tides. The low intertidal zone, which borders on the shallow subtidal zone, is only exposed to air at the lowest of low tides and is primarily marine in character. Overview Students recall that the rocky shore has been divided into zones by marine biologists based on the average water and air exposure of each area. The greatness of water only allows survival of few organisms. only during storms, and an intertidal zone, which lies between the high and low tidal extremes. The intertidal zone is the area of the shore that lies between the highest normal high tide and the lowest normal low tide. Organisms that live in this zone have to deal with difficult environmental conditions, being both submerged in sea water and exposed to the air. Middle Tide Zone: Also called the Lower Mid-littoral Zone. The intertidal zone experiences two different states: one at low tide when it is exposed to the air and the other at high tide when it is submerged in seawater. Number of individuals, after 30 days, on rocks transplanted to the middle intertidal zone. The intertidal zone is the area that connects the land to the ocean water. Organisms here include mussels, sea lettuce, isopods, green algae, chitons, anemones, and barnacles. The intertidal zone -- the area between high and low tides -- is a harsh and unforgiving habitat, subject to the rigors of both the sea and the land. You cannot download interactives. To measure barnacle recruit density and size unaffected by other sessile species (Beermann et al. The strength and the frequency of the waves that come into the intertidal zone will affect its formation. The mid intertidal zone is frequently exposed to air by regular waves in the tide cycle. What Is An Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)? For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. 1145 17th Street NW Gina Borgia, National Geographic Society The middle tide zone is submerged and exposed for equal amounts of time. The middle intertidal zone is regularly covered by water. Intertidal is a see also of subtidal. It is also called littoral zone. Intertidal zones exist anywhere the ocean meets the land, from steep, rocky ledges to long, sloping sandy beaches and mudflats that can extend for hundreds of meters. Along coasts, the water slowly rises up over the shore and then slowly falls back again. The intertidal zone, also called the littoral zone, foreshore or seashore, is the part of the coast that is submerged during high tide, but exposed during low tide. The spray zone is far up on the beach and does not include the high tide zone. None of the above choices are correct: it varies according to type of substrate. Below is a description of some algal species found in the intertidal zone and an example of a species from the intertidal zone. If the Intertidal Zone is in the Artic then it would be in the Polar zone. The intertidal zone is the area on a beach situated between the high tide and the low tide. The intertidal zone is the habitat to numerous types of small organisms such as sea urchins, starfish, and many species of coral. Animals that we found here are Purple Shore Crabs, Giant Pacific Oysters, and Blue Mussels. Washington, DC 20036, National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. In the interidal zones, that includes autotrophs, … group of organisms or a social group interacting in a specific region under similar environmental conditions. It competes with mussels for anchorage in areas of heavy surf exposure—colonizing bare rock patches where mussels have been dislodged. Margot Willis, National Geographic Society. Dictated by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun, the tides predictably flow in and out daily creating a low, high, and middle tidal zone. The intertidal zone is the habitat to numerous types of small organisms such as sea urchins, starfish, and many species of … The intertidal zone -- the area between high and low tides -- is a harsh and unforgiving habitat, subject to the rigors of both the sea and the land. The intertidal zone is the area of the ocean between the high tide and low tide lines, usually on the beach at the water's edge. community and interactions of living and nonliving things in an area. Seaweeds begin to become more prominent in this area. Seaweed is the predominant vegetation in this low zone. At rocky shorelines, tide pools can form in holes, cracks, or crevices where seawater collects as the tide goes out. The lower intertidal zone is usually submerged, only being exposed at … intertidal zone, the middle intertidal zone, and the lower intertidal zone. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. The location of the intertidal zone is any interface between the land and sea which is exposed during low tide and submerged at high tide. The intertidal zone is hence an environment where seawater and air are interchanged repeatedly from the constant breaking and receding of waves. Plus, there is a risk of predation, not only from ocean-based animals but terrestrial animals as well. It has four distinct physical subdivisions based on the amount of exposure each gets -- the spray zone, and the high, middle, and lower intertidal zones. The high tide zone is only submerged at high tide and is hotter and drier as a result. The intertidal zone is underwater during high tide and exposed to air during low tide. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. rise and fall of the ocean's waters, caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. Animals present in this area include anemones, barnacles, crabs, mussels, sea stars, gastropods and sponges. The intertidal zone is the region of land below water at high tides and above water at low tides. Two times a day seaweeds and animals are covered and uncovered by seawater, allowing periodic exposure to air. The high intertidal zone is submerged only during the highest of tides, making it a largely terrestrial environment. encrusting algae. While the ocean seems vast and unending, it is, in fact, finite; as the climate continues to change, we are learning more about those limits. The intertidal zone is the region of land below water at high tides and above water at low tides. Which of the following would most likely be found in the upper intertidal zone of a rocky shoreline? The lower limit of the intertidal zone is the average high tide. Caught in the middle of the physical clash between land and sea is the highly dynamic ecosystem of the rocky intertidal zone. As a result, it contains the greatest biodiversity within the intertidal zone. Students will watch a video lesson, discuss the intertidal zone, and further explore the intertidal zone of a selected area on Earth. If the Intertidal Zone is in the Artic then it would be in the Polar zone. following subzones: high tide zone, middle tide zone, and low tide zone. and middle intertidal zones. These organisms tend to be of greater size and complexity. Supratidal Upper Intertidal Middle Intertidal Lower Intertidal … Intertidal Zone Definition. It is only exposed to air for a short period of time at low tide. It can be further subdivided into: high tide zone or high littoral zone; middle tide zone or mid-littoral zone; low intertidal zone or lower littoral zone. The intertidal zone is the area where the ocean meets the land between high and low tides. Biology, Ecology, Earth Science, Oceanography. Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com. Middle intertidal zone: over which the tides ebb and flow twice a day, and which is inhabited by a greater variety of both plants and animals, including sea stars and anemones. Here, the sudden break of a wave on the rising tide can rapidly alter the ambient temperature, salt content and serenity of a small animal’s habitat. Marine biologists and others divide the intertidal region into three zones (low, middle, and high), based on the overall average exposure of the zone. The middle intertidal zone is the region of the shore between the location of the average high tide and the location of the average low tide. The middle intertidal zone is covered by water half of the time. More plants and animals live here, because they are not exposed to drying conditions for too long. This ecosystem can be divided more precisely into five zones: the splash zone, the upper intertidal zone, the middle intertidal zone, the lower intertidal zone, and the subtidal zone. Weather may also become a contributing factor. lowest edge of the rocky substrate. This zone often includes more than one habitat, including wetlands and rocky cliffs. Sea stars and bivalves cling to a rock at low tide at Shi Shi Beach, Olympic National Park. In the intertidal zone the most common organisms are small and most are relatively uncomplicated organisms. This turbulent area is covered and uncovered twice a day with salt water from the tides. If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. The intertidal zone is the area between the highest tide marks and lowest tide marks. Middle intertidal zone Zone Features This zone is exposed to air and water approximately equal amounts of time. The intertidal zone can encompass sandy beaches, rocky shores, bays, and estuaries. It has four distinct physical subdivisions based on the amount of exposure each gets -- the spray zone, and the high, middle, and lower intertidal zones. The emarginate dogwinkle or rock whelk (Nucella emarginata) uses its radula to drill holes in barnacles, mussels, limpets, and other snails. The intertidal zone, also known as the littoral zone, is the area along the shore of marine environments that is exposed to the air in low tide and flooded by the seawater during high tide. The intertidal zone -- the area between high and low tides -- is a harsh and unforgiving habitat, subject to the rigors of both the sea and the land. Marine biologists and others divide the intertidal region into three zones (low, middle, and high), based on the overall average exposure of the zone. The intertidal zone provides habitat to a variety of animal species, such as mollusks, crustaceans, worms, some species of … The algae that exist in the intertidal species are very important to other organisms that inhabits the intertidal zone. Organisms that cannot normally survive low tide conditions, like sea stars, shrimp, or fish, can take refuge in these pools. When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. The sea palm … Seaweed, for example, has root-like structures called holdfasts that tether them to the ocean floor or rocks. Each of these zones maintains a unique community waiting for you to explore. The high inte… Organisms that live in this zone have to deal with difficult environmental conditions, being both submerged in sea water and exposed to the air. The changes can take place in days, months or years, depending on the exposure to the ocean waves. lowest edge of the rocky substrate. The species living in coastal areas most affected by changing tides have unique ways of surviving. Explore these resources to teach students about marine organisms, their relationship with one another, and with their environment. Higher Intertidal Zone: This zone is submerged during high tides, especially during the peaks, and is left dry during the remainder of the day. The intertidal zone -- the area between high and low tides -- is a harsh and unforgiving habitat, subject to the rigors of both the sea and the land. High tide zone (upper mid-littoral) The high tide zone is flooded during high tide only, and is a highly saline environment. Here, the sudden break of a wave on the rising tide can rapidly alter the ambient temperature, salt content and serenity of a small animal’s habitat. © 1996 - 2020 National Geographic Society. Many species of worms, snails, clams, oysters, mussels and seastars make the intertidal zone their home. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. The mid intertidal zone is regularly exposed and submerged by average tides. In the intertidal zone the most common organisms are small and most are relatively