Rocky Shores

Sheltered Rocky Shores

Two shores: on the left is one very exposed to wave action; right, a very sheltered shore. Note the high density of seaweeds on the sheltered one. See the Ballantine Exposure Scale

Usually face away from the open sea and the prevailing wind. This means they generally have smaller waves than exposed shores which face out into the open sea and the prevailing wind. The prevailing wind in Britain is from the south-west and so here on the west coast of Wales our exposed shores are usually on south to south westerly facing shores and our sheltered shores are usually on north to north easterly facing shores. North facing sheltered shores get less sunlight than exposed ones, are less susceptible to desiccation and in general are more hospitable places for inter-tidal organisms. Because reality is never as simple as we imagine there are exceptions. Off-shore reefs or islands for example can shelter shores that would otherwise endure heavy wave action.

• Splash Zone will be small as there is minimal splashing from waves
• A wide range of species both attached and mobile, e.g. crabs
• Lareg amounts of seaweeds
• Biodiversity can be extremely high
• Biomass is high
• The seaweed zones tend to blur into one another and so not so easily seen from a distance as the colours are similar

Find out more about the zones by clicking below: