Wildlife
Rockpools are particularly challenging and harsh environments. They are a unique habitat, but only at low tide, when they are filled with salty sea water. They are found at all levels of the rocky shore in the areas between the high and low tide marks. Plants and animals that live here must be able to cope with constantly changing conditions as water temperature, salinity and oxygen level fluctuate. Coping with all this, and with crashing waves, in addition to avoiding predators is no easy task. Yet rockpools can be very biodiverse, teeming with molluscs, shrimps and crabs, fish and anemones.
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Rockpool sandscape
Underwater microphones reveal the unheard sounds of life at the seaside.
Underwater microphones reveal the unheard sounds of life at the seaside.
Rockpool magic
Simon King goes rockpooling to see an underwater world full of life.
Simon King goes rockpooling to see an underwater world full of life.
Dinner bell
A bit of food in a rockpool brings hungry creatures out of hiding.
A bit of food in a rockpool brings hungry creatures out of hiding.
Beach safari
Wildlife to watch on a UK holiday: beaches and rockpools.
Wildlife to watch on a UK holiday: beaches and rockpools.
Rockpool wars
Beneath the calm surface of a rockpool is a fight for every morsel of food.
Beneath the calm surface of a rockpool is a fight for every morsel of food.
Tide pools, or rock pools are rocky pools by oceans that are filled with seawater. Many of these pools exist as separate entities only at low tide.
Tide pools are habitats of uniquely adaptable animals that have engaged the special attention of naturalists and marine biologists, as well as philosophical essayists: John Steinbeck wrote in The Log from the Sea of Cortez, "It is advisable to look from the tide pool to the stars and then back to the tide pool again."
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Take a trip through the natural world with our themed collections of video clips from the natural history archive.
Seaside spectacular
When it comes to summer holidays, there's no better place than the seaside and if you know where to look you'll be surprised at the wildlife you can find.
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Three-spined stickleback
Gobies
Ray-finned fishes
Hermit crabs