Key species are often zoned vertically according, for example, to tolerance of desiccation. This zonation gives rocky shores a distinctive banded appearance at low tide. A dark belt of brown seaweeds, a white belt of barnacles and a black belt of lichens dominate the lower, middle and upper shore levels respectively. A variety of molluscs such as limpets and winkles are usually present, grazing the cover of algae and invertebrates. The flora and fauna of rock pools on the shore are often particularly diverse.
Permanent submergence allows species intolerant of desiccation to live within pools on the shore.
Various coastal birds feed on rocky shores at low tide. At high tide, their place is taken by coastal fish. Rocky shores vary in their sensitivity to oil pollution. Survivorship of shore life on wave-exposed shores is likely to be higher than that upon sheltered rocky shores. However, the same was not true for sheltered, heavily oiled shores, where mass-mortalities of limpets and other species were recorded and where encrusted oil residues were particularly persistent.