The rock pools at the seashore centre are a perfect place to see underwater creatures. Hidden in the pools, under ledges, and in crevices, lives a huge diversity of marine species like crabs, sea anemones, starfish, sea urchins, molluscus that have to survive extreme conditions.

When the tides goes out they are cut off and are exposed to changes in temperature from freezing frosts to the highest temperatures in summer. Oxygen levels decrease during the night, as the seaweeds cannot photosynthesize without sunlight. Freshwater reduces the amount of salt in the water.

They are also affected by wave action, type of rock, and other marine species with whom they are in competition for space, and food. Each different zone has its own marine creatures and seaweeds living in it.

The rocky shore is divided up into zones:

• Splash zone

• Upper Shore

• Mid Shore

• Lower Shore

Each different zone has its own marine species and seaweeds living in it. This is because each zone experiences its own problems and the creatures there have adapted to live in it.

The Splash Zone

• Harsh place for species to live

• Hardly any seawater reaches here

• Strong winds and salty spray cause the plants and animals to shelter in the cliff face.

• Lichen is the mostly found here; the plants have strong roots, needle-like leaves and waxy surfaces to prevent drying out.

• Animals must be able to survive out of the water, sea slater arecommon and are nocturnal to avoid the sun.

The Upper Shore

• Vigorous conditions

• Species endure long exposure

• Plants include channel wrack

• Traps moisture by curling its edges

• Animals include barnacles and limpets

The Mid Shore

• Large number of species live here, due to shorter periods of exposure

• Species here have hard shells to protect against the waves, sun and each other!

• Seaweeds include knotted wrack and bladder wrack

• Animals include beadlet anemones, mussels, barnacles, topshells and periwinkles.

The Lower Shore

• Exposure is for a shorter time making it a more stable environment

• More soft bodied animals

• Anemones, starfish, crabs, shrimp, fish, sponge, sea squirts, sea hares, live here.