Intertidal Zone

The intertidal zone is a gradient that stretches between land and sea and one in which there is constant change as sea water moves with the tides, alternately submerging and exposing areas of the sea floor. The intertidal zone (or littoral zone) is the area of the sea floor that lies between the high and low tide marks, bridging the gap between land and sea. At high tide, the intertidal zone is submerged beneath sea water and at low tide it is exposed to air. For this reason, the intertidal zone presents a harsh set of challenges to inhabiting organisms, who must adapt to constantly changing conditions.