Key species are often zoned verticallyaccording, for example, to tolerance against desiccation. Thiszonation gives rocky shores a distinctive banded appearance atlow tide. A dark belt of brown seaweeds, a white belt ofbarnacles 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 usuallypresent, grazing the cover of algae and invertebrates. The flora and fauna of rock pools on the shore are oftenparticularly diverse.
Permanent submergence allows speciesintolerant of desiccation to live within pools on the shore.
Various coastal birds feed on rocky shores at low tide. Athigh tide, their place is taken by coastal fish. In fact, the overall ecology of the region is muchbetter understood than has been the case for other areasaffected by major oil spills. Rocky shores vary in their sensitivity to oil pollution. Survivorship of shore life on wave-exposed shores is likely tobe higher than that upon sheltered rocky shores.