| Beavertail ~ Rocky Shore |
 |
 Virtual Field Trip |
| Beavertail ~ Rocky Shore |
|
Virtual Field Trip |
Next on the agenda is a Tide Pool Study. A tide pool is a spot where a pool of ocean water remains at low tide. The salt water stays behind at low tide because the water collects in a depression (or low spot) in the rocks. We've been learning about the plants and animals that live in tide pools and now is our chance to explore for ourselves.
Many of us wore old sneakers or water resistant shoes to go in the water. At this point, we made sure we had our field guides so we could identify all the creatures we see.
Right away we see that there are alot of mussels and periwinkles in the bottom of these dynamic pools of life. The mussels cling to the rocks by what looks like thin strings called byssal threads. Barnacles and mussels both attach themselves to the rock, so they're considered sessile organisms that don't move. (We know now though, that mussels can move if too many crowd together on the rock substrate.) Because they don't move, mussels and barnacles are found in distinct places or zones on the rocky shore. Periwinkles and dogwinkles are mobile and can be found in many zones because they can move wherever they want to go.
