The Intertidal Zone (Also known as the Littoral Zone)
What is a Biome?
A biome is a major regional or global biotic community characterized chiefly by the dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climate. The Hundred Islands are a part of the Ocean Intertidal Zone Biome.
Distribution/Location: Where can I find the Ocean Intertidal Zone?
Biome Map. Biomes of the World. 2010.
The Ocean Intertidal Zone Biome is distributed across the globe, but only exists in areas where land meets sea.
The map to the right shows the distribution of the biome on a map. The blue areas are the ocean. There is an ocean intertidal zone at any point where the blue meets any other color except for white.
This should impress upon you the extensiveness of this biome on the planet.
The map to the right shows the distribution of the biome on a map. The blue areas are the ocean. There is an ocean intertidal zone at any point where the blue meets any other color except for white.
This should impress upon you the extensiveness of this biome on the planet.
What is the Ocean Intertidal Zone?
Intertidal Zone. Enchanted Learning. 2010.
The Intertidal Zone of the ocean is the area where land meets water. The Hundred Islands is a prime example of an intertidal zone because its land is submerged completely under water at times and because it is made up of a series of relatively small landmasses surrounded by vast amounts of water. This area has many coastlines where the ocean meets land, so the many organisms that thrive in intertidal zones live here. These beautiful creaters include seastars, mussels, sea anemones, and more
Zones of the Ocean
To see the grand scheme of where, exactly, the intertidal zone fits in overall ocean organization, here is an overview.
The following zones are organized in order, starting at the shore and moving towards depper ocean.
- Intertidal (Littoral) Zone: This is essentially an ecotone between land and the sea. (Reminder: An ecotone is a mixture of two different biomes - in this case it would be marine and land biomes. This is why there are so many different organisms that may exist in both zones.)
- Neritic (Sublittoral) Zone: This is a few meters to about 200 meters deep, and is just outside the Intertidal Zone.
- Bathyal Zone - This zone is near the edge of the continential shelf
- Abyssal Zone - This is the deep water zone. This zone lasts about 2000- 6000 meters in depth, and makes up most of the ocean.
Structure: What makes up the Ocean Intertidal Zone?
For more detailed information on the wildlife and organisms of the intertidal zone, see the wildlife tab.
Relative Productivity
The Ocean Intertidal Zone is not one of the most productive biomes of the world in the sense that it does not have the highest primary productivity. However, it is rich in animal life and has a high biodiversity level that makes it rewarding to visit.
The biomes, in order of productivity, are listed below. As is shown in the list, the COASTAL ZONE (which would include the Intertidal Zone (Littoral Zone) is sixth out of nine places. This shows that its productivity is low, but not the lowest possible.
The Biomes, IN ORDER OF PRODUCTIVITY:
1) estuaries and tropical rain forest (highest)
2) temperate forest
3) agricultural land
4) temperate grassland
5) lakes and streams
6) coastal zone
7) tundra
8) open ocean
9) desert
The biomes, in order of productivity, are listed below. As is shown in the list, the COASTAL ZONE (which would include the Intertidal Zone (Littoral Zone) is sixth out of nine places. This shows that its productivity is low, but not the lowest possible.
The Biomes, IN ORDER OF PRODUCTIVITY:
1) estuaries and tropical rain forest (highest)
2) temperate forest
3) agricultural land
4) temperate grassland
5) lakes and streams
6) coastal zone
7) tundra
8) open ocean
9) desert
Sources:
Rosenburg, Matt. "Intertidal Zone". About.com. 2010. World Wide Web. <http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/intertidal.htm>.
"Getting Here". Tourism Hundred Islands Park. 2006. World Wide Web. <http://www.hundredislands.ph/guide.asp>.
"Biome". Answers.com. 2010. World Wide Web. <http://www.answers.com/topic/biome>.
"Biome Map". Thewildclassroom.com. 2003. World Wide Web. <http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/index.html>.
Copyright 2010 Meera Patel and Jo
