Model Tide Pool Ecology at MSUM to engage students in marine experiences

Introduction: Tide pools create diverse and variable environmental conditions, which in turn creates niche space for diverse life forms. MSUM’s Biosciences Department has an active research program in aquatic biology that provides research opportunities for MSUM undergraduates. Undergraduate biology students have successfully published research concerning freshwater organisms, but creating an artificial tide pool would expand the current freshwater program to also provide student with experiences in marine biology. To expand on these research possibilities, we applied to the Dille Fund for Excellence to turn under-utilized equipment into a tide pool.

Mission: The purpose of the tide pool project is to provide a working model of a tide pool. The aim is for this system to be used as a learning opportunity for students in Biology and Biochemistry courses such as Organismal Biology, Invertebrate Biology, Aquatic Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Principles of Animal Behavior and Biochemistry I. The tide pools are also available for independent research projects. Finally, these pools are an ideal outreach opportunity for K-12 students to learn about ocean life.

Cleaning the tanks:

Setting up the reservoirs and pumps:

Contruction process: The team building the tide pool is interdisciplinary comprising students majoring in biology, chemistry, physics, and sustainability. We emptied and cleaned the tanks, built a wooden frame, added insulation and a liner, and set up reservoirs and pumps. The pumps will have to be timed to simulate the rise and fall of a normal tidal cycle.

Building the frame:

Adding the liner

The system measures 12’x4’ and holds about 600 gallons at high tide (as shown below). At low tide water is pumped into adjacent reservoirs (blue tanks) where the filtration occurs. The floor of the tide pool is sloped such that at low tide each pool is sequentially isolated from the others as the water level drops. The tide pools are stocked with a variety of fish and invertebrates such as starfish, sea urchins, brittle stars, hermit crabs, sponges, etc.