INTERTIDAL Zone Habitat

Discover the Intertidal Zone habitat and its amazing creatures!

Read the passage below and answer the fill in the blank questions: 1. The intertidal zone is an extreme ecosystem because it constantly experiences drastic changes. It is located on marine coastlines, including rocky shores and sandy beaches. 2. 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.3. Anything living in the intertidal zone must be able to survive changes in moisture, temperature, salinity, and withstand strong waves.4. Barnacles, mussels, and kelps can survive in this environment by anchoring themselves to the rocks.5. At rocky shorelines, tide pools can form in holes, cracks, or crevices where seawater collects as the tide goes out.6. 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.7. This ecosystem also provides protection against erosion and keeps storm waves from reaching buildings along the shore. Review each Intertidal Zone below and answer the following questions: Which zone generally submerged, except for a fairly short period during the turn of the low tide? Spray Zone High Intertidal Zone Mid Intertidal Zone Low Intertidal Zone Which zone is repeatedly wetted by splashing waves and wind-blown spray? Spray Zone High Intertidal Zone Mid Intertidal Zone Low Intertidal Zone Which zone is exposed only during the lowest spring tides? Spray Zone High Intertidal Zone Mid Intertidal Zone Low Intertidal Zone Which zone is flooded during the peaks of the once or twice daily high tides, and out of water for the long stretches in between.? Spray Zone High Intertidal Zone Mid Intertidal Zone Low Intertidal Zone Sort the organisms into the correct intertidal zones. Spray Zone Lichen Periwinkle snails High Intertidal Zone Barnacles Purple Shoreline Crab Mid Intertidal Zone Snail Mussel Bed Low Intertidal Zone Red Algae Kelp Why is the Intertial Zone Important? It maintains a balance between the land and the sea It provides a home to specially adapted marine plants and animals The intertidal zone also staves off erosion caused by storms All of these are true