Zonation Flashcards
What is zonation
the distribution of plants or animals into specific zones according to such parameters as altitude or depth, each characterized by its dominant species
What is the intertidal zone?
the shoreline - the area between the high and low water marks
What does the shoreline represent?
A transition between fully marine and fully terrestrial environments
What is the environment gradient
the gradual change in abiotic factors
What creates a shoreline (3)
wave action
Tides
Sea spray
which type of phyla dominate shorelines and what does this suggest?
Marine - suggests animals evolved in seas and moved to land as they can survive better in aquatic than terrestrial zones
Which type of phyla dominates the splash zone?
Terrestria l
What is a litoral
The region of shore of a lake of sea or ocean
Describe typical rocky shore zonation patterns
Lower intertidal = seaweed, algae
Middle intertidal = barnacles, mussels
Upper intertidal = periwinkles, lichens
What 2 main factors affect rocky shore zonation
Physical environment - i.e: environmental gradient - wet-dry, tides, wave action, salinity, emersion/immersion
Biological factors - i.e: competition, predation
Name 3 physical factors that effect w zonation
Wet-dry environments Tides Wave Action Salinity Air exposure (emersion/ immersion)
What are sedentary animals?
Those that are fixed to one spot - i.e: barnacles, mussels
What happens to mussels that are moved from a low shore to high shore
Die - because desiccation causes stress
What is desiccation
The removal of moisture/ drying out
How does shore height affect macroalgae tolerance to desiccation
The higher the shore, the more tolerant they are
