Seashore Transects

We have all heard about the effects of global warming on our familiar ecosystems but what about in the sea ?

Seashore Transects

Unfortunately global warming is happening there too. Warmer seas means changes in ocean currents, different amounts of nutrients and food, whole scale changes in oceanic populations and distributions.

Seashore Transects

To see what lives where, Biologists sample at different zones up and down the beach – this is called a Transect.

Seashore Transects

Splash Zone, with Black and sometimes yellow lichens – well above the high tide line.

Seashore Transects

The tide never comes this far up the beach, but the salt water may splash these rocks. This salt water evaporates and means that there is little freshwater.

Seashore Transects

Tides come and go. At this position on the beach, nearly half way between low and high tide lines, the organisms spend 50% of their lives underwater and 50% above water.

Seashore Transects

This ever changing environment has made them adapt.

Limpet

Seashore Transects

Seaweed zone – mid to low down on the shore, covered by the tide for long periods of time.

Seaweed

Seaweeds are algae, they photosynthesise (when submerged), making sugar. They are the start of marine food chains. Some have air bladders, like this one, Bladder Wrack, to help them float.

Seashore Transects

From looking at their results, and linking to the position on the beach, these Biologists will be able to discover what sorts of conditions each organism needs to survive and how they are adapted to do so.