The intertidal zone is the area of the shore that is alternately covered and uncovered by the tides. It is one of the most biologically diverse habitats on Earth, due to the wide range of environmental conditions that it experiences. These conditions include varying levels of salinity, temperature, and exposure to waves and currents. As a result, the intertidal zone is home to a wide variety of plants and animals that have adapted to these challenging conditions.
In contrast, the neritic zone is the area of the ocean that extends from the low-tide line to the edge of the continental shelf. It is typically less diverse than the intertidal zone, as it experiences less variation in environmental conditions. The open-ocean zone is the area of the ocean that extends beyond the continental shelf. It is the largest and least diverse of the three zones, as it experiences very stable environmental conditions.
