Intertidal ecology is the study of
intertidal ecosystems, where organisms live between the low and high
tide lines. At low tide, the intertidal is exposed whereas at high tide, the intertidal is underwater. Intertidal
ecologists therefore study the interactions between intertidal organisms and their environment, as well as between
different species of intertidal organisms within a particular intertidal community. The most important environmental and species interactions may vary based on the type of intertidal community being studied, the broadest of classifications being based on substrates -
rocky shore and soft bottom communities.