Surviving the extremes in a rockpool

Twice each day the gravitational pull of the sun and moon causes the tides to moves in and out.

The area where the tides move in and out is called the intertidal zone.

Rockpools allow seaweed and marine animals to hang on and the pools often remain wet when the tide is out.

As the seawater dries out in this pool it becomes more salty.

Rockpool animals and plants are hit by powerful waves.

Seaweed can be ripped from rocks

Floating animals are washed onto beaches.

Animals are exposed to predators.

When the tide moves out, much of the area dries out.

At low tide in summer, the plants and animals get cooked in the hot sun.

Sand can be dumped into rockpools covering the plants and animals.

Mud can cover some rockpools if the currents change.

Rain at low tide can make rockpools less salty which will affect some marine plants and animals.

Water from stormwater drains can pollute the sea around them.

Oil pollution from the land or sea will kill most seaweeds and marine animals.

Sometimes marine animals are taken by people.

Rockpools in the intertidal zone is one of the most difficult environments to survive in.