This article is an introduction into tide pools. I'm sure everyone knows what a tide pool is, but maybe you'll learn something from this article, and the articles to come.
TurbidWater.jpg
Tide pools are "clearly" show the forces of nature as turbid water meets soft sediment.
TableAcro.jpg
Yet many table across thrive in these areas.
Three basic laws of survival rule life in the tidepool (GMA 1998):
Keep from being washed away by the waves at high tide
Keep from drying out by the sun at low tide
Keep from being eaten
LoneMangrove.jpg
Pictured here a lone mangrove pod growing in a tide pool.
What Are Tide Pools?
"Tides are the periodic (occurring at regular intervals) variations in the surface water level of the oceans, bays, gulfs, and inlets." (NDBC 2006) Since water levels are not constant, neither or shore lines. This produces a shoreline area of great variability. Tide pools are the shallow water pockets found along shore lines. These areas of water are usually found in rocky locations and greatly very in water volume as the tides rise and decline.
The tides are created by the gravitational forces of the sun and the moon. The moon (being far closer to Earth) has a much greater affect on tides. The gravitational forces of these bodies pull the water on the Earth towards them. Without boring you with details I'll just say that there are two low tides and two high tides per day. The cycle of tides varies daily, but is well predicted and repeats every 27.3 days. In fact one could argue that predicting tides is more accurate than predicting when Old Faithful will erupt.
podmicro.jpg
Commonly called water bugs are abundant in tide pool systems.
What Lives in a Tide Pool?
Lots of interesting little things. That sums up the fauna of tide pools but more specific examples are to follow. To provide a list of what you can find in tide pools is impossible. The biodiversity varies greatly between the shorelines around the world. Here are some examples, but this is just a glimpse….
Algae
Everyone's favorite item is abundant in many tide pool areas. While an argument can be made for coral reefs really being algal reefs it is also true that algae spp. are very successful in tide pools. Without much investigation or attention even a small child can recognize that a tide pool is a bunch of wet rocks covered in algae.
In this author's opinion their may be nothing on this planet of more beauty than wet rocks covered in algae.
AlgaeCover.jpg
Even Chlorophyta macro algae can not escape the cover of debris in tide pools.
Corals
Yes even corals are found in tide pools. The thrashing waves, intense light, exposure to air, and threats from predators are not enough to keep them away. Often found in brilliant colors the corals of tide pools are not to be overlooked.
TideCoral.jpg
Only a couple inches below the water surface this colorful Acropora sp. displays vibrant colors.
Fishes
Can you find fishes in tide pools? Absolutely. I feel confident in saying you can find fishes in just about every body of water on the planet. Tide pools are certainly not an exception. Many fishes live in tide pools throughout their lives, while other fishes may seek protection in the cracks and crevices while juveniles.
TideFish.jpg
Tide pools are home to many fishes. Some like those shown here appear as flashes of color as they dart around their coral homes.
TideEel.jpg
An eel is shown poking its head out if its home.
Arthropods
Shrimp and crabs. These creatures are fun to watch and exciting to find. Small crabs can be found on rocks, sand, underwater, riding the waves, and simply holding on for dear life. The have very small claws, or very large, or anywhere in between. Just as pleasurable to see is their odd little sideways shuffle across the substrate. It is also important to mention that most of the Arthropods found in tide pools are animals too small for us to easily see. Microcrustaceans exist in huge numbers. I mean huge numbers. This general classification includes Mysids, Amphipods, and Copepods. Interesting side note- Copepods are
This article is an introduction into tide pools. I'm sure everyone knows what a tide pool is, but maybe you'll learn something from this article, and the articles to come.
TurbidWater.jpg
Tide pools are "clearly" show the forces of nature as turbid water meets soft sediment.
TableAcro.jpg
Yet many table across thrive in these areas.
Three basic laws of survival rule life in the tidepool (GMA 1998):
Keep from being washed away by the waves at high tide
Keep from drying out by the sun at low tide
Keep from being eaten
LoneMangrove.jpg
Pictured here a lone mangrove pod growing in a tide pool.
What Are Tide Pools?
"Tides are the periodic (occurring at regular intervals) variations in the surface water level of the oceans, bays, gulfs, and inlets." (NDBC 2006) Since water levels are not constant, neither or shore lines. This produces a shoreline area of great variability. Tide pools are the shallow water pockets found along shore lines. These areas of water are usually found in rocky locations and greatly very in water volume as the tides rise and decline.
The tides are created by the gravitational forces of the sun and the moon. The moon (being far closer to Earth) has a much greater affect on tides. The gravitational forces of these bodies pull the water on the Earth towards them. Without boring you with details I'll just say that there are two low tides and two high tides per day. The cycle of tides varies daily, but is well predicted and repeats every 27.3 days. In fact one could argue that predicting tides is more accurate than predicting when Old Faithful will erupt.
podmicro.jpg
Commonly called water bugs are abundant in tide pool systems.
What Lives in a Tide Pool?
Lots of interesting little things. That sums up the fauna of tide pools but more specific examples are to follow. To provide a list of what you can find in tide pools is impossible. The biodiversity varies greatly between the shorelines around the world. Here are some examples, but this is just a glimpse….
Algae
Everyone's favorite item is abundant in many tide pool areas. While an argument can be made for coral reefs really being algal reefs it is also true that algae spp. are very successful in tide pools. Without much investigation or attention even a small child can recognize that a tide pool is a bunch of wet rocks covered in algae.
In this author's opinion their may be nothing on this planet of more beauty than wet rocks covered in algae.
AlgaeCover.jpg
Even Chlorophyta macro algae can not escape the cover of debris in tide pools.
Corals
Yes even corals are found in tide pools. The thrashing waves, intense light, exposure to air, and threats from predators are not enough to keep them away. Often found in brilliant colors the corals of tide pools are not to be overlooked.
TideCoral.jpg
Only a couple inches below the water surface this colorful Acropora sp. displays vibrant colors.
Fishes
Can you find fishes in tide pools? Absolutely. I feel confident in saying you can find fishes in just about every body of water on the planet. Tide pools are certainly not an exception. Many fishes live in tide pools throughout their lives, while other fishes may seek protection in the cracks and crevices while juveniles.
TideFish.jpg
Tide pools are home to many fishes. Some like those shown here appear as flashes of color as they dart around their coral homes.
TideEel.jpg
An eel is shown poking its head out if its home.
Arthropods
Shrimp and crabs. These creatures are fun to watch and exciting to find. Small crabs can be found on rocks, sand, underwater, riding the waves, and simply holding on for dear life. The have very small claws, or very large, or anywhere in between. Just as pleasurable to see is their odd little sideways shuffle across the substrate. It is also important to mention that most of the Arthropods found in tide pools are animals too small for us to easily see. Microcrustaceans exist in huge numbers. I mean huge numbers. This general classification includes Mysids, Amphipods, and Copepods. Interesting side note- Copepods are
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