Water Sector
Come and observe the sights and sounds of life in the intertidal zone.
Many interesting creatures spend their lives here. Depending on the
tide level, you'll find different creatures living in the area.
High-Tide Level
The upper part of the High-Tide Level is covered by the tide for only
a few hours each day. Some creatures found here may only covered by
water for a few hours each month. The dominant stationary animals are
the high-shore barnacles. Below these are the semi-mobile molluscs,
such as the limpets, siphon shells, chitons, top shells, conniwinks
and the black nerite.
Mid-Tide Level
Along many south-eastern Australian shores, there is a characteristic
band of hard, white, limy Galeolaria tube worms, which may form dense
colonies. Many intertidal animals are adapted to living in the microhabitat
provided by the thick tube-worm colonies. This level is covered and
uncovered for about an equal time each tide cycle.
Low-Tide Level
This region, which often occupied by the sea-squirt Cunjevoi is uncovered
for only a few hours each tidal cycle and is the favored habitat of a
large range of intertidal species. Most species that live in the intertidal
zone are found at this level, and include anemones, sea stars, sea urchins,
chitons, tritons, whelks, limpets, barnacles and crabs. Some algal
(seaweeds) species occur in moist gutters, crevices and in rock pools.
Low Fringe Level
Here, low tide oscillates around this level during the lunar month.
At low tide this level is wetted and exposed during each wave. Most
creatures and algae are fully marine and are not really adapted to
spending some time exposed. Some carnivores move into the intertidal
region to eat easily captured attached prey, such as barnacles, cunjevoi
and slow-moving limpets. Most algal species live here.
Marine
Species found here are not adapted to spending any of their life cycle
in the intertidal zone, except by accident. Some come in at high tide as
predators of intertidal species. Many carnivorous fish and decapod crabs
fit this category. A large range of algae are found here.
Come see the diverse range of creatures at each tide level!