Geography 5 Lab Project

California Rocky Intertidal Ecosystem

Kenny Clark, Spencer Atkins, Tyler Van Matre

CA Rocky Intertidal Map

Southern CA Rocky Intertidal Zones

Northern/Central CA Rocky Intertidal Zones

Historical State of CA Rocky Intertidal Ecosystem

Historically, the California Rocky Intertidal ecosystem was very diverse with many different organisms and creatures flourishing. The Rocky Intertidal zone is the area between the high tide of the ocean and the low tide in places with rocky crevices and holes where organisms can live. The different tidal zones and pools along the Pacific coast are all distinct based off of many features: the type of rock, the powerfulness of the waves in that area, the accessibility to the coast, and many other ways. From the time California was being developed as a state to now, the Intertidal ecosystem has evolved mainly due to human impact and the ecosystems accessibility to humans. In that way, the California Rocky Intertidal ecosystems in less populated places represent more of the way Intertidal zone was historically. Most of the Rocky Intertidal zones were unharmed and unchanged in the past with the original plants and animals being able to compete with other organisms to flourish.

Organisms

The Rocky Intertidal Zone is usually split into three subsections (four including the Spray Zone). Organisms with different adaptations can survive in the different zones based off their ability to avoid predators, their ability to catch prey, how they attach to the rocky geography, and how they retain water.

HUMAN IMPACTS

Human impacts on the California rocky intertidal have been studied for many years. Studies have shown that most of the humans impacts on the CA rocky intertidal zones are bad. Impacts such as trampling, collecting, and overturning rocks has left a bad effect upon the rocky intertidal zones. These destructive activities ruin species and organisms, causing organisms to become vulnerable to waves. Studies have also shown that the intertidal population including the flora and fauna were collected by humans. Humans used all of these as resources for fish bait, research, and souvenirs. Collecting the population of the intertidal reduced the quantity of the population, which is hurting the California rocky intertidal. Lastly, overturning rocks is a bad activity that disrupts the ecosystem. Some people can just be having a good day walking along the zones, and turn over a rock. As little of an impact as some people think turning a rock over is, it destroys all of the organisms that were on top of the rock. These are huge problems that need to be brought into attention, because its hurting the ecosystem.

Collecting Impact (Bad)