intertidal
“In nature nothing exists alone”
-Rachel Carson
-Rachel Carson
The Intertidal zone is a unique place where twice a day tides pull away life-supporting water to reveal colonies of creatures rooted to the rocks, ready to endure the sunlight and air. A delicate balance of life where many species are on the front line of adapting to changes in the environment.
The Ochre Sea Stars (Pisaster ochraceus) is a keystone species, referring to stone structures and if the keystone is removed the building crumbles. Since June of 2013 sea stars along the coast of North America have been dying off due to a virus that has been around for decades, this mass species event is called Sea Star Wasting Syndrome (SSWS). It’s not clear why the virus is so effective at this point in time but scientist believe that warmer water plays an important role.
The Ochre Sea Stars (Pisaster ochraceus) is a keystone species, referring to stone structures and if the keystone is removed the building crumbles. Since June of 2013 sea stars along the coast of North America have been dying off due to a virus that has been around for decades, this mass species event is called Sea Star Wasting Syndrome (SSWS). It’s not clear why the virus is so effective at this point in time but scientist believe that warmer water plays an important role.
