Aquatic ecology and Biodiversity

Practical 12- Study of rocky shore habitat and organisms

Experiment No. 12
Date: Date & Time of Visit:
Place of Visit: Name of the Teacher:
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Rocky shores are areas of bedrock exposed between the extreme high and extreme low tide levels on the seashore. The ecosystem is complex, as it is an interaction between terrestrial and aquatic systems. Plants and animals are distributed on the shore in horizontal zones. This zonation can be very clear and abrupt. Tide pools often have rich communities of organisms normally associated with the lower shore or sub tidal habitats. The plants are typically algae (seaweeds) and lichens. Algae, lichens, seaweeds, the animals such as periwinkle, barnacles, amphipod crustaceans, hydroids, mussels, sea urchin, dog whelks, starfish, limpets, isopods, sponges, tube worms, tunicates, sea anemones, rock crabs, sea slugs, bivalves etc. are common in rocky shores.
Adaptations of rocky shore organisms
Structural - eg. thick, impermeable shells to reduce water loss and radiation effects.
Behavioural - eg. seeking small crevices for shelter to reduce the drying effects of the wind.
Physiological - eg. an ability to lower metabolic rates during exposed periods to minimise oxygen consumption.

Morphology of rocky shore:

• Type of rock
• Total area
• Tidal area / exposure

Water Characteristics
Physical: Temperature-------- Colour ------------- Turbidity---------------------------
Chemical: pH-------------,Do------------------------- Salinity---------------------------
Rocky shore communities and zonation of organisms
- Algae
- Benthic organisms
- Rocky pool fishes / crabs / prawns etc.
Species diversity and associations
Inference: