Sea Stars and Mussels Clinging to Tidal Rock
Saturday, July 18th, 2026 at 3:19:36 PM · 2026/Schoolhouse Beach Tide Pools
This close-up photograph captures a densely populated intertidal zone on a rocky surface exposed during low tide. Prominent purple/ochre sea stars (Pisaster ochraceus) are clustered on the rock face, several of them actively preying on blue mussels (Mytilus californianus) — a quintessential predator-prey relationship of the Pacific intertidal zone. The upper portions of the rock are blanketed with dense colonies of dark blue-black mussels intermixed with dried kelp and algae, while orange sponges and additional sea stars add splashes of warm color. The texture-rich composition reveals the extraordinary biodiversity packed into a small tidal area, with multiple species competing for space on every visible surface. The image conveys the rugged, life-filled energy of a healthy intertidal ecosystem at low tide.
Chronologically Adjacent
