Bamfield Biodiver-sea-ty
Vancouver Island is a special place with access to some wildlife we city-folk rarely get the chance to experience. At the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, visitors and researchers study some incredible biology. From tiny single cellular phytoplankton to entire communities like the intertidal zone (in the photo below!) there is so much to explore.
“Scientists study life’s diversity in order to understand common principles underlying the biology of all species, to understand how our ecosystems came to be and how they function, and to learn how to act sustainably.”
– Beaty Biodiversity Museum

The intertidal zone is so diverse because of its relationship with the tides. With daily, even hourly, changes in water level, so many critters get hung out to dry! Most intertidal organisms have evolved some method for conserving water while the tide is out. Other species prefer living between air and ocean, like Rockweed, which needs to live in the upper intertidal to prevent rotting underwater. Each zone in the intertidal (upper, middle, and lower) is home to different species that prefer the amount of air and light exposure they receive. We can see a zonation pattern very clearly in the healthy ecosystem at Bamfield! Biodiversity is a useful indicator of ecosystem health because each species has a different niche to fill.

Some researchers at Bamfield attach weights to ropes to allow marine invertebrates to grow on them, like in the photo above. These squishy anemones, tube worms, and bright red tunicates are subtidal species. We can find them more easily with this method than out in the intertidal zone because they establish themselves in areas with no air exposure (unless some pesky students come by to check them out).
Exploring the intertidal takes some time and focus. Once you know what to look for, every square metre is suddenly teeming with life. Grab a field guide, check the tides, and get out there!
To explore more incredible examples of biodiversity, check out the Beaty Biodiversity Museum on UBC’s campus! Beaty also provides incredible online resources, including this virtual exploration of the current special seaweed art exhibition.