Protecting Terranea’s Tide Line

Between the TidesTerranea’s coastline provides a rocky haven for many marine animals that only thrive in this ever changing tidal environment. A visit

to our tide pools is your chance to take a curious glimpse into the ocean. This is a habitat

that includes algae (“seaweeds”) and a kaleidoscope of marine invertebrates. That means

strange critters without vertebral columns like sea slugs, anemones, seastars and shell-

fish. They are all so uniquely designed and so critical to the life in our coastal waters.

Pounded by surf, revealed at times to the sun, submerged again in salt water, such is life in the Tidal Zone. This special home, to a colorful

medley of marine life, reveals itself daily as the tide slips below 1.0 feet. In case you wondered,

here in California we experience two high tides and two low tides, which are referred to as

diurnal tide. Tide height itself is governed by the gravitational forces exerted upon the ocean

by the sun and the moon. Although the sun is much larger than the moon, the moon is much

closer to the earth and therefore exerts a larger influence over our tides. Sunflower Star,Pycnopodia helianthoides

Dungeness Crab, Cancer magister

Purple Sea Urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

Jackknife Clam, Tagelus californianus

Get covered by Kelp!During low tides a variety of creatures rely on the shade and moisture provided by blades of living

seaweed. The collapsed blades become thick underwater forests as the water returns. These aquatic

forests act as nurseries for some fish species and food for others.

The rocks provide the anchor that this ocean algae needs to hold onto for the tidal ride. They do not

have roots like land plants for penetrating soft ground, but instead are designed to be cemented

to hard surfaces. While plants on land obtain nutrients from the soil, seaweeds get nutrients from

surfaces in contact with seawater.

A Wet Web!Food webs describe the shifting of food energy from organism to

organism. An example of a marine food web connection might begin

with phytoplankton, the microscopic algae drifting in ocean waters.

Phytoplankton and seaweed form the base of the ocean’s food web

because they do not feed on marine wildlife. They use the sun’s energy

to make food energy in a process called photosynthesis.

Filter it First!Filter Feeders belong to another level of the marine food web and they include bivalves (two shells) like the California Mussel who filters the small particles of plankton and decomposing matter known as detritus from the water.

Other members of the web get their food in a variety of ways. Grazers,

such as limpets, chitons and turban snails methodically mow the algae

and diatoms off the rocks. Giant Sea Anemones have special stinging

cells that stun their prey while sea stars send their stomachs out to

feed on mussels right in the shell. Scavengers like shore crabs simply

pick up the leftover bits and pieces.

Look, But Don’t Touch! These delicate web connections are numerous and most are very

fragile. When viewing tide pools step in bare spaces free of seaweed

and animals. Give birds and sea mammals, such as seals plenty of

space, as they can be easily disturbed, potentially leaving their young

to fend for themselves.

Heed to safety as you journey to the tide pools, you are entering an

ever changing environment. Watch for slippery steps, tread lightly and

pay attention to tidal flow and incoming waves. Photograph, sketch or

ponder, but please do not disturb these protected plants and animals

on the edge!

Green Anemone,Anthropluera xanthogrammica

Buller’s Shearwater, Puffinus bulleri

California Pacific Coast Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera

Rockweed, Fucus gardneri

Black TurbanSnail,Tegula sp.

GOLF COURSE

FLOWERFIELD TRAIL

PALOS VERDES DRIVE SOUTH

BLUFF TOP TRAIL

BLUFF

TOP T

RAIL

SHORELINE

ACCESS

VANDERLIP

LINK

Discovery Trails

100 Terranea Way Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 Resort 310.265.2800 Fax 310.265.2700 www.TeRRAneA.Com

For Terranea Resort Reservations and Information, please contact your Travel Professional. For GDS Reservations, please use the Destination Hotels & Resorts Chain Code “DN” – Thank you!Aspen | Austin | Chapel Hill | Charleston | Cle Elum | Denver | Daytona Beach Shores | Florham Park | Houston | La Jolla | Lake Tahoe | Los Angeles | Palm Springs Palos Verdes | Phoenix | Portland | San Diego | Santa Fe | Snowmass Village | Stowe | Sunriver | Tampa | Tarrytown | Telluride | Tempe | Vail | Wailea, Maui | Washington

AN OCEANSIDE WALKING EXPERIENCE…1. LadyOfTheLight

2. It’sSoDiatomaceous

3. LiveForever

4. ExploreTheOceanFloor

5. SearchForTheSpout

6. OneAndTheSame

Enjoy, photograph, paint and play, but do not remove anything from land and sea.

Local laws and ordinances are observed.

HAbItAt AREAPlease remain on the designated trails and respect the habitat areas.

GOLF COURSEWhen enjoying the Discovery Trail, please be careful not to enter onto the golf course, both for your own safety and for the benefit of our golfing guests.

INTERPRETIVE AREA

WALKING PATH

PUBLIC TRAIL

BIKE RACK

PARKING

BLUFF TOP PARK

DOGGIE RESTING SPOT