The Coast

The coast is an unique biome because it changes so often. The three different types of coasts are rocky shores, saltmarshes, and sand dunes. For our website, we researched rocky shores. It is difficult for animals to live on the rocky shore due to the changes of many abiotic factors. One factor is dessication, or drying out that happens as the shore is exposed during low tide. Another challenge that plants have to deal with is lack of light. Seaweeds need to be in water in order to do photosynthesis, but sometimes the water filters out some wavelengths of light and reduces the intensity. The biggest change that organisms have to counter is temperature. This is because they have to adjust to very hot temperatures at low tide and much cooler temperatures 12 hours later.

Animals in the rocky shore usually avoid sun, drying air, and predators by staying out of the sun during low tide. Many animals stay in cracks, under rocks, or in their own burrows. Some animals even have shells that they can tightly close to avoid drying out. Some animals that live in the rocky shore are:

  • mussels
  • sea anemones
  • barnacles
  • sea snails
  • sea stars
  • crabs
  • lobster
  • fish
  • sea birds

Plants in the rocky shore usually have holdfasts which allow them to cling to rocks, even in large and powerful waves. They are also very tough and flexible which allow them to bend instead of breaking when they are hit by tough waves. Some plants in the rocky shore are:

  • kelp
  • knotted wrack
  • irish mosh
  • pepper moss
  • red algae
  • boot lace
  • blatter rack
  • dabberlocks
  • longweed

Where the coast is located

Rocky shores are found all over the world like in New England, Canada, England, and Australia.

Some human interaction in the rocky shore is littering. Plastic water bottles and bags are found all over the ocean because they get washed away from the beach. People are trying to help the rocky shore by cleaning up beaches and helping animals.