Amphipods and fly larva shred the "wrack" and piping plover chicks learn to dart along the wrack line feeding on flies and beetles. Wrack supports numerous species of invertebrates. Wrack is a mix of marine plants ("seaweed") and salt marsh plants ("thatch"), deposited on the beach by high tides, especially those associated with full and new moons. Some may resist desiccation by sealing up a tough outer shell or carapace like a clam others avoid exposure by burrowing down to wet sand until the tide returns.Ībove the tide line, the beach is a transition zone from marine to terrestrial systems, powered in large part by the energy contained in "wrack". Sand-dwelling organisms in mid-and upper-tidal areas are adapted to cope with shorter periods of inundation by sea water. Very small nematodes (simple worms), copepods (tiny crustaceans), and other invertebrates live in the space between sand grains of the lower intertidal zone. The inhabitants of the beach are linked by their intimate relationship with the ocean's waves and tides. But others depend exclusively on beaches for their survival. Some of these species are wide ranging, and include the beach as one of many habitats they use. What many people may not be aware of is that these beaches are important ecosystems that support a wide variety of plants and animals, many of which blend in with the environment and are often overlooked. Visitors are drawn to the many recreational opportunities the beach has to offer, such as walking, swimming and relaxing under an umbrella on a hot summer day. Most visitors will agree that Cape Cod National Seashore has some of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the east coast.
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