Compatisome Of Upper And Lower Rock Shores Pools

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different to those of a ‘normal’ marine environment. The rock pools spend some of their time completely submerged by the sea and other times exposed to the air. When exposed the organisms of the rock pool are part of a much smaller body of water than normal. This smaller volume of exposed water is likely to be changed significantly, mostly as a result of heating by the sun (Brehaut, 1982).
Heating of exposed rock pools mean that the organisms within have to cope with considerable abiotic variations There are three major factors which fluctuate in rock pools: 1. Temperature- this changes as a small body of water changes temperature quickly. Temperature also changes due to flooding by waves of different temperatures; 2. Salinity- this increase due to evaporation and decreases if the pool is diluted by freshwater e.g. rain. Salinity also changes like temperature, through flooding by the sea. 3. Oxygen- this decreases with increased temperature and can also come in short supply if the ...

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be even more tolerant. Also, because the conditions of the upper shore are harsher, there should be fewer numbers of organisms and less diversity, (Brehaut, 1982).
As the rock pools are wave-beaten, the organisms within them have to attach themselves to the rocks. Such mechanisms include strong attachment e.g. algal holdfasts, cementation e.g. barnacles and adhesive feet e.g. gastropods such as limpets.
METHOD:
One rock pool from the upper shore and lower shore were chosen. The physical features of the rock pools were recorded. The shape of the pools were drawn, the surface area of the rock pools worked out by measuring the dimensions of the rock pool with a metre rule and string. ...

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