The Intertidal Zone: Life on the Edge

Where the land meets the sea, life clings to the margins in a world of relentless change. The intertidal zone is a place of extremes-where creatures endure crashing waves, scorching sun, and the constant ebb and flow of the tides. It is a place of resilience and adaptation and home to some of the most extraordinary organisms on the planet. Blending marine biology, oceanography, and evolutionary science, marine biologist Ruth Searle takes us on a journey through the deep history of the intertidal zone – from its ancient origins as the possible cradle of life to the remarkable adaptations of the species that inhabit it today. Exploring the geological forces that shape coastlines, the mechanics of tides and waves, and the evolutionary arms race that has unfolded on the shore, this book reveals how the intertidal has not only survived mass extinctions but has driven some of nature’s most extraordinary innovations. The Intertidal Zone: Life on the Edge is a celebration of one of Earth’s most dynamic ecosystems – its beauty, its mysteries, and its fragility. As climate change and human activity reshape coastlines across the planet, understanding the intertidal has never been more urgent.