Monthly Archives: December 2005

Crossaster papposus: Rose star–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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We dont find the rose star very often when diving at Race Rocks . These sunstars are scavengers and are omnivores, ir predators of anything edible. Sunflower stars and Northern sunstars are its predators. 

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Asteroidea
Order Velatida
Family Solasteridae
Genus Crossaster
Species papposus,

(C. papposus Linnaeus, 1776)

Common Name: Rose Star

Other Members of the Phylum Echinodermata 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.

Garry Fletcher

Pisaster ochraceus: Purple or ochre star–The race Rocks Taxonomy

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Along the low intertidal shores of Vancouver Island, this sea star is frequently found. It is amazing however that this is the only specimen we have been able to find at RaceRocks. Since these sea stars inhabit the lower intertidal zone they are subject to strong forces by crashing waves. This single individual with a diameter of over 50 cm. has a protected niche at the inside base of the cliff in a crevice on the small intertidal island on the West side of Great Race Rocks. Its main food, Californianus mussels are abundant all around so it has probably been in this same position for more than 20 years.

The Pisaster ochraceus or ochre star as it is more commonly known can be found along the coast of the Pacific Ocean from the Baja California up to Alaska. However it is more common around the Northwest coast as it is a cold water species. Ochre stars typically have five arms and are dotted with small white blunt spines which form line patterns. The bottoms of their arms are covered in small extendable suction like feet.

The ochre star mainly eats mussels, snails, limpets, chitons, barnacles or sea urchins. By moving on top of its prey, the ochre star then opens the shell and everts its stomach onto its prey digesting it. The ochre star is also prey to birds and sea otters. The ochre star plays an important role as a keystone species. It has been noted that in areas where the ochre star has been removed, the ecological diversity has gone down.

Interestingly enough, the ochre star can withstand being out of water for an extended period of time. It is able to lose a substantial amount of water. It can also regenerate a lost arm, though this may take up to a year. Ochre stars have been known to live up to 20 years.
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Asteroidea
Order Forcipulatida
SuborderAsteriadina
Family Asteriidae
Genus Pisaster
Species ochraceus
Common Name: Purple or ochre star

References:
http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/projects/rocky/oochstar.html
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pisaster_ochraceus.html

Other Members of the Phylum Echinodermata 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.    Alex Chan  ( PC year 31)

Plantago maritima, Goose tongue–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Jen pointing to the plantain near the docks

Seaside plantain is a perennial growing to 0.2m. . The flowers are
hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by
Wind. The plant is self-fertile.The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils
and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and
basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soil. It cannot grow in the
shade. It requires dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime
exposure.It grows on the rocks at Race Rocks where the soil is well drained and
dry. It is exposed to the sea spray and so it can tolerate changes in
salinity.
It is used is a laxative – Plantain seeds contain up to 30% mucilage
which swells up in the gut, acting as a bulk laxative and soothing
irritated membranes. Sometimes the seed husks are used without the seeds.The young leaves are edible leaves raw or cooked.Reference:
http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=529711

http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Plantago+decipiens&CAN=LATIND

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Plantae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta
Superdivision Spermatophyta
Division Magnoliophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Subclass Asteridae
Order Plantaginales
Family Plantaginaceae
Genus Plantago
Species maritima ssp. juncoides
Common Name: goose tongue

Other Members of the Angiosperms 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.

 Jennifer Davies PC Yr 30

Desmarestia herbacea: The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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desm

Desmarestia herbacea at the base of a Laminarian Photo by Ryan Murphy

Desmarestia herbaceaPhylum: Phaeophyta
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Desmarestiales
Family: Desmarestiaceae
Desmarestia herbacea (Lamouroux)

Description:  This plant is erect, up to 2m. high, flattened, 1-2 cm. wide, tapering abruptly to a short cylindrical stipe with a discoid holdfast.   The plant has 3-4 orders of branches from a percurrent axis; branching opposite; base of branch esstipitate.  The main axis and branches have a conspicuous thick percurrent midrib, and branch apices are densely clothed with acute hairs.

Habitat:  On rocks in the lower intertidal zone and upper subtidal zones.

Pacific Coast Distribution:  Alaska to Mexico. Robert Scagel, 1972
Other Phaeophytes or Brown Algae 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. —–——- PC yr 31

 

Hemigrapsus oregonensis: Shore crab-The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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hemigrap?

Hemigrapasus oregonensis photo by Anne Stewart. In log

Physical description:
Hemigrapsus oregonensis (Beige shore crab) has dull olive-coloured hairs on its legs and it is lack of reddish spots on the claws. The legs have abundant setae and the chelipeds have no purple spots, but have yellow or white on the tips. There are 3 teeth on the anterolateral margin of the carapace. It has a carapace width ranging up to 34.7mm for males and 29.1 mm for females. It is usually dark or grayish green in color, but white or mottled patterns are common, especially among juveniles. It also has a four-lobed anterior margin.

Global Distribution:
Hemigrapsus oregonensis occurs from the high to low intertidal zones of bays and estuaries from Resurrection Bay (Alaska) to Bahia de Todos Santos (Baja California).

Habitat:
It is most commonly found under rocks, throughout the intertidal zone. They live on open mud flats and in mats of the green alga Enteromorpha and beds of the eelgrass Zostera. It can also be found in rocky habitats within estuaries, gravel shores and in estuaries where it constructs burrows in mud banks. Generally, it prefers more protected and slow water current area. Hemigrapsus nudus always stay together with Hemigrapsus oregonensis.

Feeding:
Hemigrapsus oregonensis feeds mainly at night. The diet of it consists primarily of diatoms, sea lettuce and green algae, but occasionally includes meat if it is available. It scraps up diatoms and crop algae. It also preys on a wide range of small invertebrates, scavenges if it is possible. It can filter-feed by using its third maxillipeds.

Predators:
Predators include shorebirds and Carcinus maenas. A type of red ribbon worm is also a predator of the eggs of Hemigrapsus oregonensis. .

Reproduction:
In northern waters ovigerous females are seen from February to September. The number of eggs carried by the female is ranged from 100 to 11,000 (with an average number of 4,500). Hatching occurs from May to July with one pre-zoeal stage occurring inside the egg. Planktonic larvae develop through five post-hatching zoeal stages. The larvae typically spend five weeks in the plankton.
In August some females produce a second brood which hatches in September. Time from egg deposition to adult recruitment is variable and depends on several factors: the quantity and quality of food available, water temperature and salinity. Altogether it takes about 8-13 weeks for a brood to hatch, metamorphose and be recruiting into the adult population.

oregonshorecrab

Oregon Shore crab G.Fletcher photo

Scientific Classification
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Crustacea
Order Decapoda
Family Grapsidae
Genus Hemigrapsus
Species oregonensis
Common Name: shore crab

Sea otters, currently abundant in Elkhorn Slough and only historically abundant in more northern bays, are limiting Hemigrapsus oregonensis populations. One paradigm in the study of exotic species is that healthy ecosystems, with a full complement of native species, are more difficult to invade than modified systems. In this case, sea otters may be eating the introduced species, as evidenced by Hemigrapsus oregonensis parts in recent scat analyses. While the current West Coast range for Hemigrapsus oregonensis is Morro Bay, California to Barkley Sound, British Columbia, studies at Elkhorn Slough may change how scientists and resource managers predict the impacts of introduced marine species.”

References:(accessed 2005)
http://oregonstate.edu/~yamadas/crab/ch9.htm
http://people.wwc.edu/staff/cowlda/KeyToSpecies/Arthropoda/Crustacea/Malacostraca/Eumalacostraca/Eucarida/Decapoda/
Brachyura/Family_Grapsidae/Hemigrapsus_oregonensis.html
http://oceanlink.island.net/oinfo/intertidal/arthropod.html
http://www.nwmarinelife.com/htmlswimmers/h_oregonensis.html
http://www.ci.edmonds.wa.us/Discovery_Programs%20Website/Crustaceans.html
http://oregonstate.edu/~yamadas/crab/ch5.htm

Marine Invertebrates of the Pacific Northwest by Eugene N. Kozloff

by Student  Karyn Wong, PC yr 32 -2005
Other Members of the Phylum Arthropoda 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.

Corallina officianalis: The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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geniculatecor1

Corallina officianalis – all photos by Ryan Murphy

Phylum: Rhodophyta
Class: Florideophyceae
Order: Cryptonemiales
Family: Corallinaceae
Corallina officinalis (L.)

geniculate corallinacostaria

Description: This plant is erect, 4-6 cm. high, dark pink in colour, arising from an encrusting basal layer attached securely to the substrate. The erect portion is a branched system of jointed segments. The segments below are cylindrical, about 0.75 mm. diameter; above slightly cgracilis2compressed and about 1 mm. broad. The axes are clothed with narrower short lateral branchlets that shorten to the apex. Branching pattern gives the plant a clumpy appearance.

Habitat: On rocks in the lower intertidal and upper subtidal zones and in tide-pools.

 

Pacific Coast Distribution: Alaska to Mexico.

 
Other Rhodophytes or Red Algae 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. Ryan Murphy PC yr 26

 

Desmarestia intermedia : The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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desmarest

The wiry branches of Desmarestia  intermedia.. Photo by Ryan Murphy

All the Desmarestias have high acid content. You often see them bleached out on the beach, and they will also bleach any adjacent algae.

Phylum: Phaeophyta
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Desmarestiales
Family: Desmarestiaceae
Desmarestia intermedia (Postels and Ruprecht)

Description:  This plant is dark brown in colour, up to 60 cm. high, very profusely branched, wiry; branches mostly compressed, about 1.5mm. wide except near the base, where the main axes are up to 5 mm. wide and cylindrical. Branching is fasiculate below, mostly alternate above, occasionally opposite.

Habitat:   On rocks in the upper subtidal zone.
Pacific Coast Distribution: Bering Sea to Oregon.
Robert Scagel, 1972
Other Phaeophytes or Brown Algae 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. -Ryan Murphy 2005

 

Directory of OceanQuest Assignment Resources:

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Overview: Are you prepared to take on the challenge of OceanQuest? You are expected to be an active participant in helping to build a valuable resource database for a unique sensitive environment.

The basic starting resources you will use come from www.racerocks.ca but our vision for the future is that you may actively develop a set of internet resources for your own unique ecological area.

Link to The OceanQuest GIS With Curriculum Guide
NOTE: The link to the GIS which ran on an outside server arranged by the Open School has been discontinued.. The other curruculum materials are still valid however on this site.
Topic 1 :
BIODIVERSITY
Some of the following files from www. racerocks.ca were used in the building of the OCEANQUEST website.
Lesson: 1. Structure and Function of Ecosystems :
How can we model ecosystems in order to understand how they work ?
Student Activities: Objectives:
Procedure :
1. Introduction
2. Horizontal distribution

  • Objectives:
    Procedure:

    • 1. Use the remote camera.
    • 2. Use the dichotomous key for identification.
    • 3. Determine the sector from aerial view of horizontal distribution.
    • 4. Field techniques to quantify distribution.
    • 5. Describe the Role of organisms in determining horizontal distribution.
    • 6. Design your own horizontal structure analysis.
    • 7. How do Anthropogenic Impacts affect Biodiversity.
      • Objectives:
        Procedure:
3. Vertical Distribution

  • Objectives:
    Procedure:

    • 1. Use the remote camera.
    • 2. Use the Dichotomous key for identification.
    • 3. Vertical Stratification of Tide Pools
    • 4. Subtidal vertical stratification with seaweed canopy.
    • 5. Vertical Stratification in the water column.
    • 6. Vertical Stratification in Soil
    • 7. Design your own vertical structure analysis.
4. Biotic Components
List of birds and mammals most frequently observed from the remote camera 5.
5. Rare and Endangered Species
6. Coastal Classification System

  • Objectives
  • Procedure:
7. Abiotic Components (Topic 2 below)
8. Ecosystem Function

  • Objectives:
  • Procedure:
9. Biogeochemical cycles

  • Objectives:
  • Procedure:
10. Extension..Other ecosystems– structure and function.
Lesson:
 2. Why not Adopt an Ecosystem?
Use the internet as a means to get groups to collaborate to provide an educational resource while ensuring the stewardship of their own local ecological resources.
Objectives:
Procedure:
1. Identify the area
2. Establish goals and time lines
3. Establish a baseline inventory
4. Class project to provide a taxonomy
5. Use technology to document the area
6. Monitor for Structure and Function: (See topic 1.)
7. Submit site for inclusion in GIS
8. Obtain tiff-referenced aerial photography
9. Assemble a web-site to carry the information.
10. Create a list of the Ecosystem Services and Natural Capital of the area.

11.Set up a weather monitoring Station.
TOPIC 2: ABIOTIC FACTORS
Lessons: 1. Selected Abiotic Factors (such as Barometric Pressure) :

The effects of physical factors on the life of an ecosystem is often taken for granted. Here we give you the chance to investigate some of the unique ways that organisms have evolved in order to adapt to the physical conditions of their environments.
Objectives:
Procedure:
1.Introduction
2. Wind Speed and Direction
3. Barometric Pressure
4. Lightning
5. Change through time: Salinity and Temperature.
2. Limiting Factors and the Ecological Niche
Objectives:
Procedure:
1. Introduction
2. GIS activity
3. and 4and 5. Contrast limiting factors in two closely related species.
6. Natural Selection
7. The Ecological Niche as determined by limiting factors
8. Adaptation: A classic study of limiting factors: The Bumpus sparrows.
9. Extension: Central Tendency and Variability.
Topic 3 : ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
Lessons
 1. Population Monitoring:
An activity which allows you to contribute to a scientific database for the census of animals
Objectives:
Procedure:
1. Census of the populations, and the use of the dichotomous key.
2. Race Rocks population numbers and sector designations.
3. Weather correlation to population levels.
2. The Ethology Assignment:
An activity that may allow you to look at the behaviours of animals in a new way
Objectives:
Procedure
1. Preliminary Observation.
2. Collecting Data.. The ethogram and the time budget.
3. Using the dichotomous key for identification.
4. Compiling the Ethogram
5. Preparing the Time Budget
6. Doing a report and submitting results to the GIS
7. Extension material

Corallina vancouveriensis: coralline algae–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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cvancouveriensis

Corallina vancouveriensis in a tide pool, some bleached white by the sun

Phylum: Rhodophyta
Class: Florideophyceae
Order: Cryptonemiales
Family: Corallinaceae
Corallina vancouveriensis (Yendo)

All photos are by Ryan Murphy.

c.vancouveriensis

More C. vancouveriensis in a tide pool

Description: This plant is erect, 4-10 cm. high, deep purple in colour, arising from an encrusting basal layer attached securely to the substrate. The erect portion is a branched system of jointed segments. The segments below are cylindrical, about 0.75 mm. diameter; above slightly compressed and about 1mm. broad.  The axes are clothed with narrower short lateral branchlets, all approximately the same length. Branching in the lower region is distichously pinnate with branches usually simple; above distichously pinnateor verticillate with branchlets usually pinnately subdivided.

Habitat: On rocks in the lower intertidal and upper subtidal zones and in tide-pools.
Pacific Coast Distribution: Alaska to Mexico. Robert Scagel, 1972
Other Rhodophytes or Red Algae 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.
Ryan Murphy PC yr 27

 

Laminaria groenlandica : The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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laminaria groenlandica

Laminaria groenlandica blade showing deep dissections==All photos by Ryan Murphy

Phylum: Phaeophyta
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Laminariales
Family: Laminaracea
Laminaria groenlandica (Rosenvinge)


Description: This plant is dark brown to black in colour with a conspicuous holdfast, blade, and stipe. The stipe varies in length from 10 cm. or less to 60 cm. in length, from terete to complanate, and is 3-4 mm. diameter. The holdfast is relatively small, made up of many branched root-like structures. The blade is 60-90 cm. long, 7-12 cm. wide, sometimes deeply dissected, and it may be completely smooth, with only two rows of bullations, or densely bullate over the entire surface. The base of the blade is broadly rounded.
Habitat: On rocks in the upper subtidal zone.
Pacific Coast Distribution: Bering Sea to Oregon. Robert Scagel, 1972
Other Phaeophytes or Brown Algae 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. Ryan Murphy PC yr 26