make your way down to the beach, and you'll soon understand why people and birds are so attracted to these rocks. The lumps you noticed from above are actually clusters of mussels and barnacles. By remaining tightly anchored to the rock, these animals can resits the powerful force of waves. They open their shells to feed in water and, at low tide, close them tightly to avoid drying out. Between the shell beds sprout gardens of colorful algae that may resemble lettuce, tiny palm trees, or clumps of wet oak leaves. More commonly known as seaweed, the different forms of algae grasp the rock with root like hold fasts. Algae cannot obtain moisture or nutrients through the hold fast as green plant do through their roots. But like green plants, algae produce their own food using carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight through the process of photosynthesis. Colorful snails with twisted shells inch through this unusual garden. You'll see similar shells wobbling and wandering across the rocks at a faster pace. Inside are hermit crabs, which adopt abandoned snails shells for their own protection