Most beach-goers will recognize the shallow pools that emerge during low tide that contain ocean animals like barnacles, crabs and sea stars. For many people (including myself!), their earliest exposure to the ocean was through playing in tide pools, searching
Most beach-goers will recognize the shallow pools that emerge during low tide that contain ocean animals like barnacles, crabs and sea stars. For many people (including myself!), their earliest exposure to the ocean was through playing in tide pools, searching for critters to discover. But how much do you actually know about tide pools? Read on to learn what tide pools are, how they form and how animals survive and thrive in them.
What are tide pools? How do they form?
Tide pools are small pockets of water that form during the tidal cycles. Every day, the gravitational pulls of the sun and moon cause changes in sea level called tides. The area of the shore that is more exposed during low tides and covered during high tides is called the intertidal zone, and this is where you find tide pools! When the ocean recedes during low tide, some water remains trapped in holes, slopes and cracks on the shore. Any animals that were in that water get trapped too—at least until high tide!
Who lives in tide pools?
Life in a tide pool isn’t easy. Although it might seem like a cozy spot