Intertidal Zones

16 Jul Intertidal Zones

The Potomac River is tidal. This means that as the day progresses, the river flows in different directions and the water levels rise and fall. It also means that at different times of the year, there are more extreme tides. This week for #TallShipTuesday, Providence’s marine life expert, Quartermaster Kitt, explains the intertidal zone. This is the area between the lowest low and highest high tide where unique animals and plants live.

The intertidal zone is generally defined as an area “underwater during high tide and exposed to air during low tide.” While most intertidal zones are along the coast and directly connected to the sea, as a tidal river, the Potomac also has a intertidal zone along the potomac, it just looks a little different. Intertidal zones, wherever they are, have four major divisions. These zones have different and distinct ecological characteristics. 

The Spray Zone: Ocean spray dampens this intertidal zone. Waves and tides submerge this area during only very high tides or severe storms. The plants and animals in this area are mostly land dwelling and do not have to deal with very extreme changes.

The High Intertidal Zone: This area floods during the peaks of daily tides, but is usually dry in between tides. The sea life in this area is very hearty. These plants and animals must withstand crashing waves, air, and underwater currents. These organisms usually look like mussels, barnacles, and crabs.

The Middle Intertidal Zone: A greater variety of plants and animals inhabit this zone. The middle intertidal zone is where tides ebb and flow twice a day and could see sea stars, anemones, and more.

Low intertidal Zone: This zone is always underwater except during the lowest of spring tides. This is the most abundant of the intertidal zones where there is protection provided by the water.

Sources:

• https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/intertidal-zone.html#:~:text=The%20intertidal%20zone%20is%20the,extend%20for%20hundreds%20of%20meters.
• https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/intertidal-zone/
• https://www.nps.gov/subjects/oceans/intertidal.htm
• https://dungenessrivercenter.org/news/life-in-the-intertidal/
• https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencedirect.com%2Ftopics%2Fagricultural-and-biological-sciences%2Fintertidal-zone&psig=AOvVaw1_Aq0kBVHmSGCvsads1e0O&ust=1721238079782000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBEQjRxqFwoTCJiN_dmNrIcDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE