Tide Pools

Purpose: The purpose, of this is to explore the intertidal zone of, a coastal area. The amount of life which can be found in one single tide pool is amazing.

Time requirements: about two hours

Materials: Field guide to marine life Dip net Collecting jars Pencil and Paper

Safety: Working around tide pools can be extremely dangerous, keep your eyes open for sneaker waves which can wash equipment away. Additionally be careful around animals which live in the tide pools, some can be poisonous and care must be taken not to harm their soft invertebrate bodies.

Procedure:

1. Draw a map of the tide pool which you are going to explore.
2. Next begin by looking at any animals such as sea anemones which are unable to move, place the location of each animal on the map which you have just created.
3. After recording all of the non-motile organisms, use a net to try to catch some of the faster moving animals of the tide pool.
4. After you have counted and recorded all of the different creatures in the tide pool look around at the surrounding landscape, and look to see why this is such a diverse area.

Analysis:

1. After you have collected your date; calculate the approximate number of different, organisms which you found in the tide pool.
2. Additionally think about why there are so many different organisms in such a small area, what factor(s) allow the tide pools to have such a rich diversity of life.

Additional Research:

1. Additional study can be conducted, by doing a little in-depth research on any one of the different animals which was observed, and how it interacts with other animals in the tide pool
2. More information can be obtained by posting a forum message or getting involved in a chat on 'A World of Diversity.'