Discussion
The Rocky Shore at Hastings Point is an intertidal environment that is subject to extreme abiotic conditions. Despite the harsh conditions, the Rocky Shore comprises of an array of habitats, all biologically rich in species. The coast has a specific group of organisms that form distinct horizontal bands or zones on the rocks. The appearance of dominant species in these zones is called vertical zonation. (Töpke, 2014) Within this vertical zonation are three subsets: the sublittoral zone, the littoral zone and the supra-littoral zone. Another ecosystem that was explored at Hastings Point was the Mangroves. This bionetwork is interconnected to the Rocky Shores as it was discovered that what effected one, effected the other.
At the beginning …show more content…
An adaptation is a mutation, or genetic change, that helps an organism, such as a plant or animal, survive in its environment. (adaptation, n.d.) Species at the Rocky shore must have adaptations to survive an array of constantly fluctuating abiotic factors such as tidal movement (water coverage), sun exposure, salt, wind, wave movement, rain water, temperatures such as air and water temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen in the water. According to the graph displaying the percentage of species on the entire Rocky Shore (found under Results), the most abundant keystone species found at the Rocky Shore was the Striped Periwinkle. Striped Periwinkles were most frequently found in intertidal zones and tide pools. Due to the species environment, periwinkles have had to overcome extreme conditions including extreme heat and wind exposure at low tide, severe wave action, and submergence at high tide. (Common Periwinkle (Littorina littorea), 1998). Periwinkles consist of a single spiral shell that grows with their body and protects them from predators. The body includes a fleshy foot, a short tail, and two antennae on the head. (Common Periwinkle (Littorina littorea), 1998) The muscular foot ripples, allowing the periwinkle to move and hold securely onto rocks to withstand large waves. The two antennae are sensory organs, allowing periwinkles …show more content…
One species of mangroves in particular that has structurally adapted to its environment is the Red Mangrove (Rhizophora Stylosa). The Red Mangrove has stout, curved prop roots, which arch down into the water from their trunks, and long, slender aerial roots, which are like thin fingers reaching down into the water. (Keeley, 2014) The roots on the mangrove has two main