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)

Trampling effect(Bad)

Marine Protected Areas of California

Along the coast of California, there are many Marine Protected Areas which include certain rocky intertidal ecosystems. The green section of this map represent the official California State MPAs which are maintained and controlled at the state level. The Rocky Intertidal Ecosystems are included in the green sections while the other colors represents places like protected estuaries and fisheries.

Future Prospects

The future prospects of California rocky intertidal does not look very promising. With the population steadily increasing over the past years, more and more people are visiting these areas. This had stirred problems with people ruining this ecosystem sometimes without even knowing. Trampling, taking of the organisms there, rock collecting are just a few examples of what's going on. Some say the cause of this is directed mainly at the heavy populations that surround the rocky intertidal zones. There have been studies to show that even hotels going up in the near areas have brought many people that would have not been in the area to explore the rocky intertidal and do harm. In my opinion, I think this ecosystem may not be the same in the future if we do not act fast. California likes to have the beach and coast open to the public but there needs to be steps put into place to combat the problems that are arising because of the free access and growing population.

Solutions to the problems

The problems of growing population and free access to the coast is affecting the California rocky intertidal. Although, harm is being done here, if we act fast this ecosystem can become much more sustainable. First, we should be addressing the free coast. California should enact laws to limit people going to these areas such as MPAs (marine protected areas). Another thing that comes up is schools taking field trips to these areas. The government should choose which rock intertidal should be able to visit and or rotate the ones used. This can help people in school still study and learn about this great ecosystem but at the same time be smart about which one to visit. The rotating could help because if there is harm done, it will have time to naturally recover without another group of students coming in soon after. Lastly, a great idea is to make these places harder to reach. Not only by enacting more MPAs but they should look into making structures to deter people away form trying to make the trip there such as far or no parking. Along with, putting in man-made structures that could make a path to get there very hard to reach.

Rocky Intertidal Zoning

Works Cited

Works Cited

http://www.mednscience.org/rockyintertidal

http://www.usc.edu/org/cosee-west/Dec2012/Background/human_impacts.pdf

http://www.eeb.ucsc.edu/pacificrockyintertidal/index.html

http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/aboutmpas/

Images from Google Images

Video: http://oceantoday.noaa.gov/marineprotectedareas/