Monthly Archives: March 2002

Hopefully the ‘spring’ is just around the corner!

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Wednesday, March 20, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE:Max. 4.1 C  Min. – 1.9 C  Reset 0.0 C  Rain 5.6mm } } Snow 4.0cm  Total Precipitation 9.6mm
MARINE LIFE: Very little animal activity today and definitely not typical weather for the first day of spring for Race Rocks.Counted 6 gulls just below the northeast ridge, huddled against the really bitter wind. Although the temperatures don’t seem all that cold they are taken in an enclosure protected from the wind,so no wind chill is factored in to give a real feel of how cold it is for the birds, especially.The 7 Northern Sealions that started out the day hauled out on the southeast rocks soon took to the water which at about 7 degrees would be the warmer choice.No Elephant seals hauled out on the ramp today which is good as the 6-7 foot swells toss all sorts of debris including large logs as far as the boat house door. Hopefully the ‘spring’ is just around the corner!
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:20 PM

Good Morning

WEATHER: Sky Overcast  Vis. 1 Miles Snow Wind 29 North North East Gust 37 Knots Sea 5 – 6 Foot Moderate Low East Swell
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:12 AM

Largest bull Elephant Seal spent the morning hauled out

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Tuesday, March 19, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max 6.0 C Min. 2.7 C  Reset 3.9C Rain 6.0mm
MARINE LIFE: 3 Bald Eagles – 2 mature. Largest bull Elephant Seal spent the morning hauled out beside the winch house then rejoined the others on the boat ramp. 1 pair of Geese today.
HUMAN INTERACTION: Coast Guard Helicopter arrived close to 9 a.m. with 2 men to work inside the tower, chopper back at 2:15 to return workers to Victoria Base. Very blustery all day, hard to believe official start of spring is tomorrow.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:07 PM

Good Morning

WEATHER: Sky Overcast  Vis. 15 Miles  Wind West 23 Knots  Sea 4 Foot Moderate
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:39 AM

Katharina tunicata: The leather Chiton

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Katharina

Katharina tunicata the leather chiton

The black oystercatcher is the main predator of the leather chitons. at Race Rocks. We find chitons occuring abundantly in the lower intertidal zone . In the picture above they are located above a small cave in the intertidal zone on the West shore of Great Race. In order to withstand the heavy impact of waves and swell, they are able to clamp onto the rock tightly.    

Description:

Chitons are marine molluscs with oval shapes and shells divided into eight dorsal plates. The chiton Katharina lives in the medium intertidal region at Race Rocks. It is very abundant on the north and west shores of Great Race Rock.

Color:

Body to 12 cm long, elongate-oval ; all chevron-shaped shells are deeply embedded in girdle, exposed only in mid-dorsal area. The interior of valves is whiteas visible above. The girdle is thick and shiny, like black leather.

Life history:

Katharina feed on brown and red algae and on benthic diatoms which it rasps from the rocks. Young animals isolated in pools grow to a length of 15 mm in 1 year and 55 mm in 3 years. They reach sexual maturity at a weight of 4 gms (33-36mm). Spawning takes place from March to July depending on latitude, with the later spawning occuring in colder regions. The eggs are green and the life span seems to be about 3 years.

Classification:
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Polyplacophora
Genus Katharina
Species tunicata
Common name: Leather Chiton
Other Members of the Phylum Mollusca at Race Rocks.

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.  Original by Hameeduddin Mehri (PC yr 29)

 

 

Euphysa flammea : The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Indentification
1. The Bell is anywhere up to 12mm tall with 4 radial canals
2. Usually have 4 rounded tentacle bulbs with 1-4 tentacles (may be different lengths); without occelli
3. Tubular manubrium
4. Gonad completely encircles manubrium.
Bell transparent
manubrium, tentacle bulbs and tentacles often have a scarlet pigment, but may be white, yellow, or orangeish.
Natural History:
Seen nearly any month of the year, but it is uncommon in many localities such as Race Rocks. There are several present along the west coast, in both shallow and deep water. The first sighting of this species was made by student divers from Pearson College in June 2002. This has been the only sighting and it remains uncommon in the vicinity of Race Rocks. it was sighted in the summer along the sea floor in relatively shallow water. Although an immediate identification was not made, but identified later on by Dr. Anita Brinckman Voss.
Range: California to the Bering Sea, sighted at Race Rocks

Classification:

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Hydrozoa
Subclass Hydromedusae
Order Anthomedusae
Family Euphsidae
Genus Euphysa
Species Euphysa flammea
Common Name: none

References: “Pacific Coast Pelagic Invertebrates” by David Wrobel and Claudia Mills

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students, faculty,staff and volunteers  of Lester B. Pearson College Dec. 2002 Adrian Thorogood (PC yr29)

Chlamys hastata: Swimming scallop

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ah052010scallop

This image of the scallop with very bright eyes was taken by Adam Harding on a dive in June 2010

The swimming scallop is closely related to clams, oysters and cockles. Unlike some of its relatives, the swimming scallop is not sessile. The ribs of the swimming scallop are rendered rasplike by the presence of curved spines. The shell can grow up to 5 – 6 cm in height. They have beautiful, green iridescent and almost luminous eyes called ocelli that are found around the edge of the mantle in both valves. The ocelli are sensitive to light intensity and are rather complicated but do not form images. They also have sensitive tentacles that project out of the edge of the mantle.

They are usually found in subtidal areas and sometimes in shallow water. They live at depths ranging from 2 – 150 m.

Swimming scallops normally lie with their right valves against the substratum, and they may be attached periodically when they are younger by means of a byssus, a fine elastic fibre as in that secreted by mussels. Scallops are free spawning organisms. Reproduction is done through the release of sperm by males and eggs by females into the water.

Swimming scallops are filter feeders. They feed with the shell agape as it the picture above.They process water, using their ctenidia (or gills) to collect microscopic food and Oxygen from the water.

Sometimes spontaneously, and just about always when menaced by a predator, such as certain sea stars (Pisaster and Pycnopodia). They swim by a sort of jet propulsion, clapping the valves together and forcing water out through openings on both sides of the hinge. This shows in the video when the Pycnopodia is brought close to the scallop. The scallop senses the pycnopodia by a chemical sensor. The swimming scallop also swims away when there is a change in environmental conditions.

Swimming scallops are usually colonized by sponges, mostly on the left valve, that form thick coatings. The sponges provide camouflage for the scallop as well as defense against predators. The sponge’s porous nature hinders potential predators, such as sea stars from getting a good grip on the scallop, and they may also provide a repulsive chemical odor. This shows biological mutualism, where both organisms benefit in the symbiosis.

References:

Kozloff, E. N. Seashore Life of the Northern Pacific Coast .4th Edition (1996). University of Washington Press. 539 pages.

Kozloff, E. N. Marine Invertebrates of the Pacific Northwest. (1996). University of Washington Press. 370 pages.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Bivalvia
Order Ostreoida
Sub Order Pectinina
Family Pectinidae
Genus Chlamys
Species hastata
Common Name: Swimming Scallop

Other Members of the Phylum Mollusca at Race Rocks.

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

Victoriano de Jesus PC year 28

 

Mussel Mariculture Lab

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group4PURPOSE: This lab enables you to experience in a small way the process of mariculture, involving everything from planning, experimentation, siting and the economics of the process. It will further give you a chance to review some of the concepts you have studied in the course.

 

 

 

 

OBJECTIVES: After doing this lab, students will be able to:
a) Understand the elements of costs involved in food production.
b) Relate to the problems of fouling, predation, parasitism and environmental impact.
c) Electronically and statistically document and analyze your findings.
d) Prepare an individual report on the process you have encountered .

PROCEDURE:

1. In groups of 3 or 4 discuss the objectives and procedure to be sure you clearly understand them. Question the teacher where necessary, and record the process you are going through at each step.

2. Make an initial attempt to define the roles of the group, but revisit them periodically to be sure that one person is not being left with the bulk of the work. Record this as well. You should also be sure that everyone involved understands each step of the process rather than overspecializing.

3. Since the goal is to produce a model of a mariculture setup, with all it’s inherent problems and achievements, you will be given some basic parameters to work with but must plan what is necessary to achieve the goals.

4. All costs are in an arbitrary currency we will call mussel dollars.
The present value of ten mussel dollars ($10m) can be equated to what the current cost of a Kilogram of mussels is in the marketplace

Lease cost of equipment :

Cage and equipment: $m1.00 Lease Space: $m1.00/mo Seed Stock:$m1.00/doz
Computer rental $m.50/hr Labor Cost:$m1.00/hr Lab space Costs: $m.50/hr
Franchise cost: $m10.00 Insurance costs$m1.00/mo.

5. You will be given one month to complete the project (Apr1). You will be responsible for progress reports every two weeks to the teacher (Your company is a subsidiary of that of the teacher called mothermussel.com.) (using the media of your choice ) .

6. A record of the initial size of your mussels should be done using the scanner. Be sure to ask for help on how to do this, as a transparent sheet has to be used . This will become an important record for future calculations. Alternately, you can use the digital camera with the ruler included for a photographic record.

7. You will be required to include in your final report, a calculation of wet and dry biomass, and if possible, an energy conversion for your data.

8. Since this is not a full scale operation you are doing, you should devote a section of your analysis to the scaling-up conversions.

9. Be careful, Mussel mariculture has inherent risks: Be sure to list all of these in your analysis!!

10. Each one of you must do research on the internet and in the library ( see the mariculture magazines, eg.Aquaculture North America to find out the global picture on mussel mariculture. In your final report, answer such questions as : Where and to what extent does mussel mariculture take place? How important is mussel production for human consumption on a world basis in comparison to other protein sources. Is there an environmental impact associated with this industry.

OPTIONAL: Use software such as ” NIH Image ” to measure the surface area of each individual mussel for growth comparisons.

Search on for lost fishermen

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Tuesday, March 12, 2002

Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 7.5C Min. 4.2C Reset 4.9C Rain 13.8mm
MARINE LIFE: 2 Bald Eagles – 1 mature, 2 pair of Geese. The largest bull elephant seal and the juvenile spent the day on the grass in front of the house, the large bull did make one trip to the ramp and back but the juvenile was quite still except for the occasional stretch and yawn.
HUMAN INTERACTION: 1 Pleasure craft and several low flying planes searching for 2 fishers missing from a 5 metre boat found over turned just west of Race Rocks.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:07 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast  Vis. 15 Miles  Light Rain  Wind South West 4 Knots  Sea Rippled  Occasional Breaks
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:13 AM

Elephant seals

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Monday, March 11, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 9.3C  Min. 6.3C  Reset 6.3C  Rain 29.4mm
MARINE LIFE: 4 Bald Eagles – 1 immature; 1 pair of Geese today. We now have 4 Elephant Seals on Gr. Race, two bulls, 1 fair sized female and the small juvenile from the ‘incident’ yesterday. The 2 bulls and the juvenile are stretched out on the grass between the winch house and our front porch.The juvenile seems non the worse for violent encounter yesterday but has stayed close to the house. In the 13 years that we have been here we have often had elephant seals haul out on the boat ramp and even as far as the grass around the houses but they were always the smaller juveniles up to 2 metres.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 5:59 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Overcast  Vis. 1 Miles  Rain  Wind South 10 Knots  Sea 1 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:22 AM

Elephant seal behaviour

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1 immature Bald Eagle today and only 1 pair of Geese.A very interesting morning! Although it is a policy not to interfere with the wildlife, today we did step in and avert what we thought would have been death to a small Elephant Seal. There was a great ruckus out in front of the boat house,looking out I could see the largest Elephant Seal moving the upper part of his body back and forth with what seemed determined force. Since I could see him only when he reared up, had to go out to see what all the fuss was about.At first it appeared we were witnessing an amorous encounter ! however it did not take long to realize such was not the case. This great creature had the smallest elephant seal pinned down on the concrete against the step and was pummeling it for all it”s worth totally unconcerned with it”s squeals and efforts to get away. Our first instinct was to jump up and down, wave and shout, which we did, unfortuately and somewhat predictably all we managed to do was further antagonize the big fellow and he lunged towards us, luckily we ”encouraged” him to back off by waving a couple of towels from the tank room as close to his head as we dared.I”m sure I read more into the relief that seemed to show in the big watery eyes of the now rescued seal but it moved toward us and we were able to inspect the bloody scrapes which looked superficial, I was more concerned that there might be internal injuries.We kept an eye on the little fellow and by nightfall it had moved up to the grass just below the front porch. I would have let it in the basement to re-couperate…but that would be rediculous… right.’, ‘Carol or Mike S’, ’15:56:14 ,

Elephant seal encounter

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Sunday, March 10, 2002
Good Evening
TEMPERATURE: Max. 9.9C  Min. 4.5C  Reset 7.7C Rain 1.9mm
MARINE LIFE: 1 immature Bald Eagle today and only 1 pair of Geese. A very interesting morning! Although it is a policy not to interfere with the wildlife, today we did step in and avert what we thought would have been death to a small Elephant Seal. There was a great ruckus out in front of the boat house,looking out I could see the largest Elephant Seal moving the upper part of his body back and forth with what seemed determined force. Since I could see him only when he reared up, had to go out to see what all the fuss was about.At first it appeared we were witnessing an amourous encounter ! however it did not take long to realize such was not the case. This great creature had the smallest elephant seal pinned down on the concrete against the step and was pummeling it for all it’s worth totally unconcerned with it’s squeals and efforts to get away. Our first instinct was to jump up and down, wave and shout, which we did, unfortunately and somewhat predictably all we managed to do was further antagonize the big fellow and he lunged towards us, luckily we ‘encouraged’ him to back off by waving a couple of towels from the tank room as close to his head as we dared.I’m sure I read more into the relief that seemed to show in the big watery eyes of the now rescued seal but it moved toward us and we were able to inspect the bloody scrapes which looked superficial, I was more concerned that there might be internal injuries.We kept an eye on the little fellow and by nightfall it had moved up to the grass just below the front porch. I would have let it in the basement to re-cooperate…but that would be ridiculous… right.
posted by Carol or Mike S at 6:34 PM
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Cloudy  Vis. 15 Miles  Wind North East 13 Knots Sea 1 Foot Chop
posted by Carol or Mike S at 7:20 AM