We have starved the field by overfishing the sea and by eliminating breeding grounds as we dam rivers . As we deforest the land, inordinate amounts of fine sediments drain into rivers which empty into the sea, and may suffocate sea life adjacent to rivers' mouths. We have altered nearshore currents by modifying the coastline, as we fortify our coastal cities building walls and constructing jetties. Our changes may be global in scale. We now may be altering climatic patterns , which drive the circulation of all oceans on Earth.
Climatic changes can affect intertidal life in many ways.
Sea level, water temperatures, nearshore currents, and nutrient levels shift and flex under new climatic pressures. Scientists know we have altered the battlefield and supported various fronts. Scientists urgently scramble to find the best methods to monitor intertidal life before it is too late. If we impact the battle by taking sides, it may eventually turn against us as well. As Moon and Earth fight for the ocean, water rolls with the punches and survives the ages with flexibility and resilience.