Tide pools are pockets of water that remain trapped in the rocks when the tide goes out. They can form anywhere along the rocky shore, from the spray zone to the lower intertidal zone. The stresses of the rocky shore also apply to tide pools. Pools that are located highest in the intertidal experience fluctuations in temperature and salinity. Once again it is the physical stresses that limit the types of organisms that can live in these microhabitats. The shape of a tide pool can have important implications. A large shallow pool has a large surface area to volume ratio - or much of the pool is exposed at the surface. A smaller deep pool has a small surface area to volume ratio. The dimensions of a tide pool can be important when considering the physical stresses. Let's take a closer look at tidepools...