Transcript Habitat

Field Trip information: 2013
May 2013
Bus leaves at 8am
Bring a lunch and a frisbee or football to throw
around.
Wear tennis shoes, longer pants, jacket layers,
and consider a rain poncho.
You’ll want extra socks and maybe dry shoes
to leave in the bus.
If you bring a camera phone, put it in a ziploc
bag.
The Olympic Coast
A Rich
History
Quinault woman carrying wood
on beach at Point Grenville
Washington, in drawing made
ca.1885
ORIGINAL CREATOR
Willoughby, Sarah, 1841-1913
Point Grenville is a part of the Quinault
Indian Nation’s ancestral land holdings
This is where we are
going on our field
trip.
We are granted special
permission to use this
area, treat it with
respect or we could
lose this privilege.
In the 1960’s this beach
was a popular surfing
area. The beach was
closed to the general
public because it was
being trashed.
Point Grenville
Rules for Tidepools
1. Try to stay dry.
2. Stay within sight of the main group.
3. Only step on bare rock, not plants or
animals.
4. If you pick up a rock to look under it,
put it back the same way. If you don’t,
it’ll kill the things that live on and under
it.
Tides
19. How many high tides are there in a day?
20. What is happening to the water between
high tide and low tide?
21. What challenges does an organism face if
it lives on a rock in a tide zone?
•
The sun and the moon
move in cycles affecting
the flow and ebb of the
tides.
•
Here in the Pacific, we
have two high and low
tides of unequal heights
each day.
•
Between each high and
low tide there is a time
difference of
approximately six
hours.
Tide Zones
•Tidepools, which are exposed
at low tide, occur within a small
strip of land known as the
intertidal zone.
•Sandwiched between the shore
and the ocean, tidepools are
extraordinary, teeming with
hundreds of marine organisms.
•In the picture: Notice that
some of the sand is completely
under the waves, some is wet,
some is drying out, and some is
dry.
22. How do you think the tide zones at
a beach can be found? (think about
the picture…)
22. Which zone is
underwater most of the
time?
23. Which one is the driest
tide zone?
24. Are there actual lines
that separate the zones
on the beach?
25. Are the animals the
same in all tide zones?
(Look at the picture.)
26. Give two ways that you
could tell the tide zones
apart if you were at the
beach….
27.
•Draw this zone diagram (you
can leave out the organisms.
Just draw the rock.) Leave
space to write things.
•Label each zone
•Go through the organism
slides and write the name of
each organism in ALL OF THE
tide zone that it inhabits.
Point Grenville Creatures
You’ll see these at the beach.
Please do the following:
•
Read every slide before
starting.
•
28.
•
Pick five of the organisms
and write down the
following information
about them:
a) Name of the organism
b) Tide zone(s) it lives in.
c) What it eats.
d) How it moves (or if it
moves).
e) One other interesting
fact about the organism.
•Aggregate anemones out of the water
Aggregate Anemone
•Aggregate anemones in the water
Anthopleura elegantissima
Habitat: Rocky intertidal mid tide zone
Eats: fishes. algae, plankton, snails, crabs
Eaten by: Sea stars, nudibrachs
Moves: Usually attached.
Drying: Aggregate anemones can be hard to see in intertidal ecosystems because they are so covered by bits
of shells and rocks. This protects them from the sun's heat and drying out.
Reproduction: Often, they reproduce by asexual dividing. They can also sexually reproduce.
Notes: Because aggregate anemones often reproduce asexually, whole colonies can be made up of
individuals with the same genes. These colonies conduct wars on other colonies that try to crowd into their
territories. They release chemicals that repel invading colonies.
•Barnacle in the water,
feeding
Barnacle
•Barnacle out of the water, trying not to dry out
(Balanus sp.)
Habitat: High to low tide zone; attached to rocks, shells
Eats: Plankton
Eaten by: Drill snails, seastars, worms, fishes, birds
Feeds: Sweeps plankton into mouth with feathery feet.
Moves: When they are young, they swim as plankton. Adults glue their head to something stable.
Defense: Withdraws into shell
Drying: Closes shell
Reproduction: Hermaphroditic (both male and female); internal fertilization.
Notes: The glue they use to attach themselves is one of the strongest natural adhesives known. It is used in human dentistry!
hotograph by Nancy Sefton
•Anemone larvae
Giant Green Anemone
(Anthopleura xanthogrammica)
Habitat: Mid to low tide zone, attached to rocks.
Eats: Fishes, algae, plankton, snails, crabs
Eaten by: Nudibranchs, seastars, snails, fishes
Feeds: Paralyzes prey with stinging cells on tentacles
Swallows prey whole, spits our shell and indigestible parts.
Moves: Attaches in clusters
Defense: Stinging cells called nematocysts
Drying: Covers with shell bits and closes up
Reproduction: Reproduces both sexually and asexually (through budding). Separate sexes
fertilize externally.
Notes: A green algae lives inside these anemones and give them a plant-like color. Studies show
that anemones that live in caves and lack algae loose weight faster when food is not available.
Photograph by Lisa Eschenbach
Chiton
(Black Chiton: Katherina tunicata)
Habitat: Mid to low tide zone; attached to rocks
Eats: Bacteria, algae
Eaten by: Gulls, seastars, crabs, fishes, anemones
Feeds: Grazes with raspy tongue-like "radula"
Moves: Glides slowly on foot; most active at night.
Defense: Clamps to rocks, or rolls in a ball if dislodged.
Drying: 8 interlocking plates enable it to conform to uneven rock surfaces and seal tightly.
Reproduction: Separate sexes; external fertilization
Notes: Carries "hitchhikers"; hydroids, byozoans, algae, barnacles, limpets, sponges, others. Largest
species in the world is found in the Pacific Northwest Region: the gumboot chiton.
Photograph by Nancy Sefton
Razor Clams
(Siliqua patula)
Habitat: Sand beaches; low tide zone to sub-tidal zone
Eats: Filters the water for plankton
Defense: Buries itself quickly into the sand.
Notes: Razor Clams have been known to live 18 years, though their
average life-span is five years. Razor Clams have been found up to
one-half mile offshore. Domoic acid collects in the tissue of Razor
Clams. This naturally occurring by-product of phytoplanktons is
poisonous to humans. It appears that domoic acid rates are
increasing and human impacts may be the cause. Scientists are
studying this relationship.
Green Crabs
Carcinus maenas
Habitat: Rocky intertidal, low to subtidal zone
Eats: Detritus, other crabs
Defenses: Pinchers
Notes: Green crabs are an invasive species from Europe. They prey on other crabs. Ecologists are closely monitoring their
population growth because they are both an ecological and economic threat to Dungeness and other crab species. So far, they
have been found in Gray's harbor to the south of the Sanctuary and Vancouver Island to the north. They were accidentally
introduced to the Pacific Northwest.
To identify Green Crabs, remember, 5-3-5. They have five lobes on the outside of their left eye, three lobes between their eyes
and five lobes on the outside of their right eye. Although it is called the green crab, it can be orange or red as well. Color is not a
good way to identify the green crab in general because many crabs can have a greenish color.
If you find a green crab matching this description, call the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at 360-796-4601.
Hermit Crab
(Pangurus
armatus)
Habitat: Mid tide zone; tidepools
Eats: Scavenges
Eaten by: Birds
Feeds: Uses claws to bring food to mouth
Moves: Crawls with legs.
Defense: Withdraws into shell; large claws act like a shield to block entrance.
Drying: Finds refuge in tidepools and under rocks
Reproduction: Separate sexes; external fertilization. Eggs attach to female's abdomen.
Notes: There are many different types of Hermit Crabs. They all inhabit discarded shells. May have
sponges, barnacles and others "hitching" a ride on their shells.
Photograph by Nancy Sefton
Kelp Crab
(Pugettia producta)
Habitat: Low tide to deep waters
Eats: Brown kelp and sometimes other animals
Reproduction: Mating takes place in deeper waters in the late fall
Notes: The color of this crab closely matches the color of the kelp it eats. In
the fall, adults migrate to deeper water. They return to the intertidal in
December. As the kelp crab ages, it becomes increasingly carnivorous.
OCNMS library
Crab Larva
Purple Shore Crab
( Hemigrapsus nudus; green: H orgonerisis)
Habitat: Mid to low tide zone; under rocks
Eats: Green algae
Eaten by: Fishes, birds
Feeds: With large pincers
Moves: Scurries sideways with legs
Defense: Hides under rocks; burrows into mud
Drying: Can withstand long periods out of water
Reproduction: Separate sexes; internal fertilization. The female broods eggs between her tail and
abdomen
Notes: What looks like a dead crab, may just be the discarded outgrown shell- the molt.
Photograph by Nancy Sefton
Sea Cucumber
(Cucumaria miniata)
Habitat: Low tide zone
Eats: Detritus (dead material) and plankton
Eaten by: Fishes and crabs
Feeds: Mucus-coated tentacles "mop up" plankton and other materials.
Tentacles are then licked clean.
Moves: Crawls with tube feet
Defense: Retracts tentacles. Tightly lodges itself between rocks. Can spit out its
own guts and regenerate its internal organs.
Drying: Nestles between rocks, in moist places has thick skin.
Reproduction: Separate sexes, external fertilization.
Keyhole Limpet
(Diodora
aspera)
Habitat: Low to sub-tidal zone; attached to rocks
Eats: Algae
Eaten by: Seastars, birds
Feeds: Scrapes algae off the rocks with radula
Moves: Moves with one foot; most return to a particular "home" during the day.
Defense: Clamps to rocks using 70 pounds of force.
Drying: Active at night, when covered with water
Reproduction: Separate sexes; external fertilization
Notes: Bryozoans, small barnacles and algae may grow on shells. This limpet can cover its shell with its
mantle (a piece of its body). This can prevents their predator, the sea stars, from being able to attach their
tube feet.
California Mussel
(Mytilus californianus)
Habitat: Mid tide zone; attached to rocks, or shells
Eats: Plankton
Eaten by: Seastars, ribbon worms, drill snails, crabs, birds,
fishes, sea otters, and humans. Human should be cautious
when eating mussels because they can cause Paralytic
Shellfish Poisoning.
Feeds: Filter-feeds; traps plankton with mucus
Moves: Attaches with thin, black "byssal" threads".
Notes: Mussel beds create homes for other animals. In one
study, a plot the size of one square foot yielded 4,711
individuals from 22 different species.
Photograph by Nancy Sefton
Octopus
(Octopus dofleini)
Habitat: Subtidal in rock caves; tidepools
Eats: Mollusks, crabs, fishes
Eaten by: Large fishes, wolf eels, crabs
Feeds: Attacks prey with arms; parrot-like beak covered with poison kills and digests prey.
Moves: Propels by expelling water through siphons. Crawls with tentacles.
Defense: Fast swimmer, and can squirt an ink "fog screen". Can change color to camouflage to
the surroundings. Uses tentacles for fighting.
Reproduction: Separate sexes; internal fertilization. Mother protects eggs for 4 months.
Notes: Octopus have a highly developed brains and eyes. The world's largest species live in the
Pacific Northwest Region and can grow to 30 feet long and weigh 600 pounds.
Photograph by Mary Sue Brancato
Smooth Bay Shrimp
(Crangon stylirostris)
Habitat: Low tide zone; sandy beaches
Eats: Small crustaceans and small clams
Eaten by: Large fishes, octopuses, anemones, crabs, humans
Feeds: With specialized feeding appendages
Moves: Swims very quickly
Defense: Spines on upper body
Reproduction: Separate sexes; internal fertilization. Eggs attach beneath tail of
females.
Notes: Antennae are chemical and tactile sensors. Commercially important.
Pacific Blood Star
Henricia leviuscula
Habitat: Low tide zone
Eats: Sponges and bacteria and other small particles it traps with mucus. This
food is then
transported up to its mouth with cilliary tracks.
Eaten by: Birds
Reproduction: Smaller females brood their young, while larger females release
their eggs
directly into the deeper waters. Sea Stars greatest enemies are human collectors.
Sponge
Cliona species
Habitat: Low tide zone. Lives attached to rocks, shells, wood and kelp
Eats: Plankton
Eaten by: Nudibranchs and some sea stars
Feeds: Filter feeds
Moves: Lives attached
Reproduces: Hermaphroditic (both male and female); internal fertilization; or asexual budding.
Notes: Can be a home for other animals such as small crustaceans and worms. Secretes an acid to dissolve shells. This
helps to turn shells into sand. Some sponges have symbiotic algae living in them.
Photograph by Lisa Eschenbach
Ochre Sea Star
Pisaster ochraceus
Habitat: Low tide zone; rocks
Eats: Clams, mussels, barnacles, oysters, snails, limpets, chitons
Eaten by: Gulls, sea otters
Feeds: Arms clamp to prey and force shell open. They can then place their stomach into the prey with an opening of
only .1 mm. It can take 2-3 days to digest their prey.
Moves: Moves swiftly with thousands of suction-cup tube feet.
Defense: Can regenerate lost arms if part of their central disc is intact. Tweezer-like "pedicellariae" on their upper
surface keep anything from settling on them and clogging the breathing ability of their skin
Drying: Thick skin prevents drying
Reproduction: Separate sexes; external fertilization
Notes: Same species may be orange, purple, burgandy, or brown. Light sensitive eyespots are on the tip of each arm.
Photograph by Nancy Sefton
Calcareous Tube
Worm
(Serpula vermicularis)
Habitat: Mid to low tide zone: attached to rocks and shells
Eats: Plankton
Eaten by: Fish nip off tentacles
Feeds: Filter-feeds with tentacles
Moves: Lives in hard white tube
Defense: Withdraws tentacles
Drying: Closes tube entrance
Reproduction: Separate sexes; internal fertilization
Notes: Tube may extend 2-3 feet. Microscopic hair-like cilia pulse in unison to draw plankton
to the mouth like an automated assembly line. Mucus is secreted to grow and repair the tubes
this worm lives in.
Photograph by Nancy Sefton
Sea Urchins
(Strongylocentrotus sp.)
Habitat: Low tide zone; on rocks
Eats: Seaweed
Eaten by: Sea otters, Seastars, crabs, gulls
Feeds: Tube feet pass seaweed to mouth; chews with a 5 pointed jaw called "Aristotle's Lantern"
Moves: Moves on tube feet and spines
Defense: Spines protect from predation. Tweezer-like "pedicellariae" keep anything from attaching to them.
Drying: Covers body with bits of shell to reflect the sun
Reproduction: Separate sexes; external fertilization
Notes: Three species; green, red and purple. The shell is called a "test". The green urchin (Strongylocentrotus
droebachiensis) has the longest scientific name in the animal kingdom! Urchin populations have damaged kelp
populations in areas where Sea Otters have not kept urchin populations in check.
OCNMS Library
Periwinkles
Habitat: High to low tide zone; on rocks
Eats: Detritus
Eaten by: Sea otters, Seastars, crabs, gulls
Feeds: Uses radula (like other snails)
Moves: Moves on tube feet and spines
Defense: Spines protect from predation. Tweezer-like "pedicellariae" keep anything from attaching to them.
Drying: Covers body with bits of shell to reflect the sun
Reproduction: Separate sexes; external fertilization
Notes: Three species; green, red and purple. The shell is called a "test". The green urchin (Strongylocentrotus
droebachiensis) has the longest scientific name in the animal kingdom! Urchin populations have damaged kelp
populations in areas where Sea Otters have not kept urchin populations in check.
OCNMS Library
Rock Fish
Tide pools
of all zones
Much
smaller
than this
picture
Feather Duster Tube
Worm
Low to mid tide
Open up to show red
worm inside
Barnacle Larvae
Thatch Barnacle
•Limpets
•Limpets are one-shelled, cone-shaped Mollusks.
•look like shields.
•graze on algae
•most are found in the high intertidal area.
•Predators include sea stars, birds, crabs and fish. They are often found
along with barnacles, mussels, or whelks on rocks.
•California Mussel
IMPORTANT
KEEP READING!!
PHOTOSYNTHETIC
ORGANISMS
•SEA LETTUCE—
Food for some, hiding
place for others. Often
ripped down to a
nubbin
•Surf grass—Food for
some, hiding place for
others. Kind of sharp.
Population Surveys
•The PVC tube squares are called
quadrats. You count every organism
inside the quadrat.
•Identify the tide zone you are in by
the organisms you see. OCHRE
SEA STARS don’t live in the high
tide zone.
•Nori—very slick
seaweed. Used to
make sushi.
•Giant Kelp—usually
not in the tidepools on
purpose…
•Winged kelp—glues
itself to rocks in the
tide zone. Great hiding
place for crabs,
seaslugs, etc…
Size: 4-8 cm or 1.5 to 3 inches tall
Habitat: High tide zone; on rocks
Phylum: Red Algae
Caloric Value: High
Eaten by: Sometimes Limpets
Vegetation present year-round?: Yes
Reproduction: Bottlebrush algae has two
life cycles (one reproductive and one not)
that are indistinguishable.
Notes: Bottlebrush algae is well adapted to
the high intertidal zone with a resistance to
drying and the ability to withstand
relatively high temperatures.
•Black Pine Algae—
Very small, not a lot at
the tidepools (usually).