Where Can You Find Us?
Intertidal biomes can be found all over the world! We are located on the coastline of all continents, and consist of the tidal pools and shallow water on the shores. On the map below, the dark pink areas around all of the continents show where intertidal biomes are located. Every species has a fundamental niche and a realized niche. The fundamental niche is where the organism could live. In the intertidal zone, most organisms could live in at least more than one of the three sections of the biome. However, organisms have a realized niche, which is where they actually live. This is due to competition for resources, because not every organism can live in the same area or else everyone would die of starvation.
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Climate
The climate of the intertidal zone depends on where in the world you are located. For example, an intertidal biome off the coast of Alaska is going to be different from one off the coast of Florida. Alaska has a cold, snowy climate with an average high temperature of 3 degrees Celsius, and a low of -5 degrees Celsius. The average amount of precipitation is about 471 millimeters. Florida on the other hand, has a completely different climate from Alaska. It is always warm, humid, and receives a lot of precipitation. The average high temperature in Florida is 29 degrees Celsius, and the average low temperature is 16 degrees Celsius. The average amount of precipitation Florida receives is 1327 millimeters. Different abiotic factors will determine which species are able to survive in intertidal biomes in different climates. Alaska's cold climate will create some survival problems for certain organisms due to the extreme cold. Florida's climate however, is perfect for supporting other forms of life which would not thrive in a cold climate. |