OCS 1005 Chapter : Ch 15 Oceanography Homework
15 Mar 2019
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Rocky intertidal zones can be very difficult to harvest life due to the rough conditions. Energy level is related to the strength of waves and currents. Muddy shore beaches experience low-energy levels, and therefore smaller particle size decreases sediment stability increases. Oxygen content is lower on muddy beaches so decomposition of organisms occurs slower. In contrast, sandy beaches experience high-energy levels, larger particle size and decreases sediment stability. Suggest at least one reason why this occurs. Sediment covered shores are composed of a wide array of materials that don"t go together and often change shape and make life without adaptation impossible. Because of this, diversity on sediment shores is much lower than on rocky shores, but organisms are found in greater numbers. Most of these organisms are called infauna, and burrow in the sediment as means of survival. A condition necessary for development is warm water that is not too warm (average 18 degrees celsius).
