Our intertidal ecology program is a great way to learn about the fascinating creatures that inhabit our coastal tide pools. Tide pools exist in the rocky intertidal zone (intertidal: the area between the highest high tide and the lowest low tide). We have two high tides and two low tides every day (~6 hrs between each change); thus, half the time the rocky intertidal zone is underwater and half the time it is exposed to the air. Not only do the marine creatures that inhabit this rugged environment have to deal with fierce waves, cold water and marine predation when the tide is in, they also have to adapt to being out of the water for extended periods and avoid terrestrial predation when the tide is out.

Our intertidal walks draw on both scientific and cultural perspectives to provide a unique appreciation of this fascinating ecosystem. Intertidal walks are 1-1.5 hours in duration and are delivered during low tide.

Plankton (from greek planktos, meaning wanderer) are marine organisms that live in the water column and cannot swim against the current. Some are photosynthetic and use the sun’s energy to grow, while others are true animals, eating other organisms to grow. In fact, most marine invertebrates start off their lives in planktonic form!  Though you may not always see them, plankton are out there, and some will become a feast for tiny fish or giant whales.

Our instructors will demonstrate some of the key protocols that oceanographers use to collect data on our world’s oceans, including collecting plankton for students to examine under a microscope. We’ll also discuss seasonal variation, food web dynamics, and the ecology of this fascinating group of organisms.