What are the Biotic and Abiotic Conditons in estuaries and intertidal zones

This presentation involves about the difference between estuaries and intertidal zones.

1. What are the Biotic and Abiotic Conditions in Intertidal Zones and Estuaries?

2. The intertidal zone It is the portion of the shore above the low tide mark and below the high tide mark. In places, where the water near the shore is deep, the rocky headlands prevent us from enjoying a wide intertidal zone.

3. The intertidal zone is the area between the highest tide and lowest tide marks. This habitat is covered with water at high tide, and exposed to air at low tide. The land in this zone can be rocky, sandy or covered in mudflats. The intertidal zone is the area between the highest tide and lowest tide marks. This habitat is covered with water at high tide, and exposed to air at low tide. The land in this zone can be rocky, sandy or covered in mudflats.

4. Sea stars, brittle star, small crabs, small fish and others are found in shallow pools. Sea urchins occupy even the crevices living the bigger pools. Near the edge of the low tide, shellfish and other organisms are seen clinging to the wet rocks.

5. On sandy beaches, the intertidal zone is kept alive by tiny fiddler crabs rapidly running from hole to hole in the sand. Near the edge of the water, small bivalves lie buried in the sand where people in the area harvest them by first digging a hole in the sand.

6. The inhabitants of the intertidal zone have been described as the “most versatile” aquatic creatures. Versatile means variable, or changing rapidly. It is said to be versatile because half of the time, they are submerged in water, and half of the time, they are exposed to strong wind and the scorching heat of the sun, throughout their life.

7. The outflowing river water is often ,loaded with soil particles from the land. The nearby intertidal zone often becomes covered with silt. Such an area is ideal for the formation of mangrove swamps on the either side of the river.

8. Estuary Refers to the area where outflowing river water meets seawater. Salinity refers to the salt content of the water. The salt content of the water in an estuary is lower than that or normal seawater because the seawater is dilute by freshwater from the land.

9. Thank you for listening!!!