When people trample on tidal life, they not only kill the plant or animal but also send a destructive ripple through the intertidal community, she explained.
"One other thing humans do is introduce new species at much greater rates than appear naturally, and many of these like non-native species are either eating or out-competing the natives," the marine biologist said.
Low Impact
The human impact on intertidal regions is clear, Lubchenco added, but "that doesn't mean they should all be totally off limits, because clearly these are great places for people to go and appreciate and just experience."
To protect the intertidal regions, Lubchenco recommends the establishment of a network of marine reserves—areas of ocean and coastline that are protected from human activities such as fishing, plant collecting, and oil and gas drilling.
"Scientists have discovered that when areas are designated as no-take, they often rebound in a way that is surprising, because it wasn't obvious there was an impact to begin with," she said.
Micheli's research goals include the identification of candidate habitats and locations for protection as marine reserves. She said certain fragile communities, such as some exposed headlands covered in mussel beds, ought to be protected from all human uses.
She encourages people to visit the remaining intertidal zone regions but asks that they tread lightly.
"Be aware and cautious of the fact that we're walking on living things," she said. "Be careful not to step on them, not to pick to pick them up and displace them from where they live, not to alter their habitat."
Researchers too need to heed this advice, Micheli added. Many budding marine biologists turn over boulders to see what lives beneath them, she pointed out. After they are done, they should replace the rock exactly as they found it.
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