Throughout the intertidal area, a very fascinating phenomenon known as
zonation occurs. Zonation is a vertical banding of the organisms living on
the rocky coastline. These distinct bands occur in part from many complex
physical and biological factors that effect marine organisms. Competition
between species for food and space, predation, and harsh environmental
factors such as thrashing waves, and temperature stress from exposure all
contribute to the formation of this phenomena.
You may find that organisms
are dyanamic and do not always stay within their zones. For example,
abalone which are common in the low tide zone, may wander to live in the
high tide zone.