A Convergence of the Senses

The Ever-Changing World Of California’s Tidal Zones

USA | Friday, 28 June 2013 | Views [359] | View Larger Image

The California Brown Sea Hare is named for its similar appearance to a hare but certainly not for a similarity in speed. They graze plant life while staying submerged in tidal pools. The hermaphroditic Sea Hare has both male and female reproductive organs, both of which can be engaged simultaneously if the creature is mating with multiple partners.

Tags: tide pool, sea hare

The Ochre Sea Star clings to the rocks in between the crashing waves of the intertidal zone. An apex predator in its habitat, the Sea Star stalks prey via an internal hydraulic system that utilizes the seawater in which it resides during higher tides. It is a shining star of nature’s ability to adapt to its surroundings; its color can change, detached arms can regenerate and its entire skin structure can adjust its rigidity to make it easier to feed and less easy to be fed upon.

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The Turban Snail is a microcosm of nature’s unpredictability: we can observe what has happened, but the future is impossible to predict. One can imagine the paths forged through the sand over the lifespan of these creatures, only to be washed away by the never-ending cycle of the tides.

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A Convergence of the Senses

The Ever-Changing World Of California’s Tidal Zones

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