Rocky Shores Lab Report

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The low energy rocky shores is an ecosystem on the west coast on Moreton Island, there were three observed intertidal zonation’s of the rocky shores. The organisms must adapt to the different challenges in each zone. The rocky shores area consists of a large bedrock surface that is being slowing eroded away from the constant water degradation, this creates rock pools and crevasses between the bedrock. The abiotic factors the organisms must adapt to are the sunlight, temperature, salinity, oxygen levels and predators. When in direct sunlight organisms can suffer from desiccation which is the process of extreme drying. Temperature change from direct sunlight or extreme heat can cause heat stress or the latter extreme cold weather can cause crystallisation …show more content…
There were two pools which covered 30% quadrant with the water measuring temperatures of 25.5 degrees and salinity of 1.028ppm. The ground surface measured 26 degrees, from this it was found that organisms were all either in crevasses of bedrock hidden from sunlight or submerged in the rock pools. Of the identified organisms it was found that only 2 were immobile these were the oysters and barnacles, they were found in crevasses or submerged in the rock pools. Although it was found that there were many carcases of barnacles and oyster on the surface of bedrock this shows that those that cannot move within the high intertidal zone will die from either prey or desiccation. The oysters and barnacles appeared closed waiting for high tide to bring food and protection from sunlight. By closing their shells those submerged also prevent the act of osmosis either from evaporation or dilution of rock pool water. Animals such as limpets which have adapted very strong shells protecting themselves against predators as they are exposed until high tide and an operculum which is a ‘trap door’ able to trap in water that is stored while the tide is low. Limpets have also behavioural adaptation when attaching themselves to a rock and grind their shell into it making a water tight
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