1. Ecology of the Northeast Marine Rocky Intertidal Zone

2. Ecology- the study of the interactions that take place among organisms and their environment biotic factor- features of the environment that are alive or were once alive abiotic factor- nonliving, physical features of the environment

3. Food web
Food web- model that shows the complex feeding relationships among organisms in a community

4. Producer- organisms that make their own food through photosynthesis Decomposer- Organism that breaks down dead organisms and returns nutrients back into the environment Primary consumer- organisms that eat producers Secondary consumers- organisms that eat primary consumers

5. Symbiosis
Symbiosis- any relationship between 2 organisms of different species
Mutualism- a symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit  

6. Parasitism- a symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and one is harmed
 

7. Commensalism- a symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other isn’t affected :) :I

8. Rocky Intertidal Zone Rocky areas along the coast
Intertidal- “between tides”
Includes a “spray zone,” “high tide zone,” “middle tide zone,” and “low tide zone”

9. Intertidal zones experience much fluctuation in temperature, pH levels, water levels, salinity (saltiness), and wave action
During high tide, tide comes in and submerges the “high tide zone”
During low tide, tide goes out and exposes the “high tide zone”

10. Different tide zones

11. H Spray Zone High tide -Flooded during high tide only, high salinity
Not enough water to sustain a lot of vegetation
Experience high temperatures because of exposure to sun

12. Organisms include anemones, barnacles, brittle stars, chitons, crabs, green algae, isopods, limpets, mussels, sea stars, snails, whelks and some marine vegetation.

13. Middle
Tide
Zone
Environment not as harsh as high tide, temperatures less extreme and not as saline (salty) as high tide zone
More organisms live here compared to high tide zone, more diversity
Do experience a lot of wave action

14. Organisms include anemones, barnacles, chitons, crabs, green algae, isopods, limpets, mussels, sea lettuce, sea palms, sea stars, snails, sponges, and whelks.

15. Low tide zone
Mostly submerged, only exposed during low tide
Highest amount of biodiversity compared to other sub-regions, much more vegetation
organisms can grow larger since there is more food
Salinity is almost at normal levels

16. Organisms include abalone, anemones, brown seaweed, chitons, crabs, green algae, hydroids, isopods, limpets, mussels, nudibranchs, sculpin, sea cucumber, sea lettuce, sea palms, sea stars, sea urchins, shrimp, snails, sponges, surf grass, tube worms, and whelks

17. Organisms found in intertidal zones
Arthropods
Atlantic Horseshoe Crab
Northern Lobster
Northern Rock Barnacle
Sand Shrimp

18. Mollusks
Bay Scallop
Blue Mussel
Common and Rough Periwinkles
Channeled Whelk
Eastern Oyster
Hard-shelled Clam
Long-finned Squid
Northern Moon Snail

19. Cnidarians
Lion's Mane Jellyfish
Moon Jellyfish
Orange Striped Sea Anemone
Porifera
Red-beard Sponge
Boring Sponge, Sulfur Sponge

20. Echinoderms
Common Sea Star
Purple Sea Urchin
Polychaetes
Clam Worm

21. Birds
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Tern
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Laughing Gull
Red-breasted Merganser

22. Fish
Northern Searobin
Alewife
Red Hake
American Eel
Sandtiger Shark
Atlantic Menhaden
Spiny Dogfish
Atlantic Silverside
Striped Bass
Banded Rudderfish
Summer Flounder
Bluefish
Winter Flounder
Butterfish
Common Mummichog
Cunner
Little Skate

23. Mammals
Asian Stalked Sea Squirt
Harbor Seal
Atlantic Rough Sea Squirt
Algae
Ctenophores
Phaeophyceans (Brown)
Common Southern Comb Jelly
Chlorophytes (Green) Rhodophytes (Red)
Sea Gooseberry
Tunicates