The first Intertidal Bioblitz in India came to an end, with multiple intertidal species being recorded

The East Coast Conservation Team and the Coastal Conservation Foundation collaborated to carry out the Intertidal Bioblitz, a citizen science project aimed at recording the biodiversity of India's intertidal zones.

It discovered Pseudoceros bifascia, a flatworm, for the first time in mainland India (Andhra Pradesh Coast).

Concerning Intertidal Zones

When the tides swipe out, the intertidal zone the area which is underwater at high tide but this exposed to the air in the low tide marking the shifting boundary where the sea meets the land.

The intertidal zone is an extreme ecosystem so species there must tolerate changes in moisture, salinity, temperature and able to withstand powerful waves.

The value of the intertidal zones

Important breeding grounds for fish, crustaceans, etc. and provide refuges for juveniles. Prevents coastal erosion by stabilizing shorelines and absorbing wave energy.

A major source of primary production and a conduit for pollutants, nutrients and energy between terrestrial and marine environments.

Dangers to Intertidal Areas

Climate change: Hotter temperatures, stronger storms and rising seas put the whole food chain at risk.

Human disturbances: oil spills, beach tourism, harvesting operations, pollutants from land, air, and marine sources, and shoreline development.