Final answer:
The intertidal zone lies between the lowest tide level and the highest elevation on land affected by storm waves. It is the part of the ocean closest to land, varying in environment depending on the area. Organisms dwelling here are adapted to its fluctuating conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The zone that lies between the lowest tide level and the highest elevation on land that is affected by storm waves is known as the intertidal zone. This region includes the area of land and ocean that is exposed to the air at low tide and submerged at high tide. It is the part of the ocean that is closest to land, and can vary in environment from sandy beaches to rocky shores or muddy bottoms.
Organisms living in the intertidal zone are adapted to being dry for long periods, as they are exposed to air and sunlight at low tide and underwater most of the time, especially during high tide. Examples of such organisms include shoreline crustaceans like the shore crab, whose tough exoskeletons protect them from desiccation (drying out) and wave damage.
The shore of the intertidal zone is also repeatedly struck by waves, making it difficult for algae and plants to establish themselves in the constantly moving rocks, sand, or mud. This zone is considerably influenced by the cyclic changes in Earth's orbit, known as Milankovitch cycles, which affect the climate and thus the conditions in the intertidal zone.
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