Intertidal zone

Starfish, sea urchins and mussel shells in a rocky intertidal zone

Intertidal zones are coastal areas, the space between high and low tides. They often have rock, sand or mud that is under water at high tide, and above water at low tide.

Rock pools are common on some shores. These areas are often home to many species of crabs, shellfish, shallow water fish and many other animals. Many environmental things affect these areas, for example, waves, sunlight, salinity, wind, and water tide. About 300,000 species have been found in the intertidal zone. These species have to tolerate the pounding of waves, the changes in temperature, and the drying out at low tide.

Panoramic view of tide pools in Santa Cruz, California from spray/splash zone to low tide zone

Intertidal Zone Media

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  Coastal vegetation zones at St Malo

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  Tide pools at Pillar Point showing zonation on the edge of the rock ledge

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  A rock, seen at low tide, exhibiting typical intertidal zonation, Kalaloch, Washington, western United States.

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  A California tide pool in the low tide zone

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  Nutrition (Eutrophic) Pollution in Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland

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  Mussels in the intertidal zone in Cornwall, England

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  Barnacles and limpets in the intertidal zone near Newquay, Cornwall, England.

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  A tidal pool in the intertidal zone during low tide, Sunrise-on-Sea, South Africa

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  Unexplained crumbs of sand that appear to have been deposited around stone by escaping air

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  Rocks in intertidal zone completely covered by mussels, at Bangchuidao Scenic Area, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China