What do studies show about temperature tolerance of intertidal animals

The intertidal zone is a region of extreme conditions and the organisms should have special mechanisms to cope up with the extreme conditions.

Explanation:

Low tides expose an intertidal zone to air while high tides cover the intertidal zone with ocean water. When exposed to air the intertidal region is directly exposed to the sun and there will be high temperature.

Thus the animals have to cope up with the extreme heat and also have to face colder environment when under the sea. Since there is change in salinity the organisms have to handle this as well.

Some animals with shells close their shell tightly to seal moisture. Animals like snails and crabs have thick outer covering to prevent water loss by evaporation.

Organisms like leaf barnacles cluster together to avoid individual exposure. Animals like sea stars cling to the rocks to avoid being washed away by the waves.