Tides significantly impact coastal ecosystems in the following ways ยน:
- Habitat creation: Tides shape and reshape coastal habitats like estuaries, salt marshes, and mangroves, which provide crucial shelter and breeding grounds for various marine species.
- Nutrient cycling: Tides facilitate the exchange of nutrients between ocean and coastal ecosystems, enriching the soil and supporting plant growth.
- Species adaptation: Coastal organisms have evolved unique adaptations to cope with the regular tidal changes, such as burrowing, migration, or specialized physiological features.
- Predator-prey dynamics: Tides influence the interactions between predators and prey, with some species using tidal cycles to their advantage for hunting or foraging.
- Human impacts: Tides affect human activities like fishing, shipping, and coastal development, which can, in turn, impact coastal ecosystems.
- Shoreline erosion and deposition: Tides contribute to the constant reshaping of coastlines through erosion and deposition of sediment, influencing ecosystem distribution and biodiversity.
