Category Archives: Species

Calendula officinalis: marigold–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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calendula

Calendula officinalis growing every month at Race Rocks– photo G.Fletcher

calendulapath

Many of the pathways are lined by this plant.

Although introduced to Race Rocks by  lightkeepers to brighten up their garden years ago, Calendula sp.is an interesting exotic since because of the ocean moderated temperature of the Ecological Reserve, it blooms at Race Rocks every month of the year. The reason it is so successful there is probably that it is not grazed by gulls or geese.

 

Also see the notation and images by Ecoguardian Anne Stewart, Sept 13 2015.

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Calenduleae
Genus: Calendula
species: officinalis

Other Angiosperms (flowering plants) at Race Rock

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.

 

Tortula muralis : Tortula moss

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This moss appears only on the top of the rock wall . January 25, 2008

This small moss was found along the top surface of the rock wall leading to the water desalinator. It was distinctive from the other species of moss because it had a greyish appearance which it turns out is due to tiny white hairs on the ends of the gametophyte leaves.

Tentative classification is as above, The reference used for classification was the USDA
http://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=profile&symbol=TOMU&display=31

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Plantae
Division Bryophyta
Subdivision Musci
Class Bryopsida
Subclass Bryidae
Order Pottiales
Family Pottiaceae
Genus Tortula Hedw.
Species muralis
COMMON NAME: tortula moss

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. 

 

 

Placetron wosnessenskii: Scaled Crab–The race Rocks taxonomy

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We are awaiting positive identification on this one as we do not see these often while diving at Race Rocks. This photo was by Pearson College Divers in the spring of 2007,
spring, 2007
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Malocostrac
Subclass Eumalacostraca
Superorder Eucarida
Order Decapoda
Suborder Pleocyematya
Infraorder Anomura
Superfamily Paguroidea
Family Lithodidae
Genus Placetron
Species wosnessenskii
Schalfeew,1892
Common Name: Scaled Crab 

 

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.

 2007 (PC)

Forficula auricularia: Earwig –The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Earwig on the remote camera 5 housing at Race Rocks, November 16, 2007.P.B. photo

An interesting fact about these insect is that they are found on every continent except Antarctica.  They have a pair of forceps-like pincers on their abdomen. Short folded wings or forewings give the scientific order name “skin wings”– Dermaptera

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Sub-Phylum Hexapoda
Class Insecta
Sub-Class Pterygota
Order Dermaptera , (De Geer, 1773)
Family Forficulidae
Genus Forficula
Species auricularia
Common Name: European Earwig

 

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.

Garry Fletcher

Passerculus sandwichensis: Savannah Sparrow–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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A Savannah sparrow shows up well against the guano-covered rock.These photos in the slide show were taken by PB Sept 3, 2007

Savannah Sparrow. photo by Jillian Brown April 2023

Pam Birley took a series of photos which I have made into a slide show here

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Passerifomes
Family Passeridae
Genus Passerculus
Species sandwichensis
Common Name: Savannah Sparrow

Savannah sparrows often show up in the Christmas Bird Count

Other Members of the Class Aves 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

Calcarius lapponicus: Lapland longspur–The Race Rocks taxonomy

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This rare visitor to the islands was photographed in October 2007 on the Friends of Ecological Reserve Field trip.Calcarius lapponicus
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Passeriformes
Family Calcariidae
Genus Calcarius
Species lapponicus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common Name: lapland Longspur

 

Other Members of the Class Aves 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

Phalaropus lobatus: red-necked phalarope–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Ryan Murphy  took these images in November 2009

In August, 2007, these pictures were taken by Barry Herring at Race Rocks . The bird was feeding near the docks. This is not a common visitor to Race Rocks, although it has been recorded on several Christmas bird counts

 

 

Phalaropes feeding in the kelp beds. Photo by PB, Sept 2008.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Scolopacidae
Genus Phalaropus
Species lobatus
Common Name: Red-necked Phalarope

Other Members of the Class Aves 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

Fucus gardneri: rockweed– The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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0708fucus1l

This image shows the reproductive receptacles which are swollen areas at the tips of fronds that have many flask-shaped cavities called conceptacles. These house the male and female reproductive structures known as antheridia (borne on antheridiophores) and oogonia (containing 8 eggs). The eggs and sperm are liberated onto the surface of the receptacles and a pheromone (sex-attracting substance) is released by the eggs that attracts the sperm. Fertilization results in a zygote that forms a new Fucus adult.

Historically physicians used this seaweed for goiter (swelling of the tissue or cells of the thyroid) and for obesity. Published commentary by a turn of the century physician (Dr. J. Herbert Knapp) indicated that he had found this plant to be a specific remedy for both exophthalmic and uncomplicated goiter. Earle Claxton referred to medicinal uses by the First Nations in this video.

Description: Fucus gardneri is attached by a small, strongly attached disc which gives rise to a short stipe.

Distribution: This species is common on the mid inter-tidal rocks of all the islands at Race Rocks.

Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Protoctista
Division: Chromophycota
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Fucales
Family :Fucaceae
Genus :Fucus
Species: gardneri
Common Name: Rock Weed
Other Members of the Brown Algae or  Phaeophyta 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.

 

Larus spp. (hybrid) A Hybrid Gull ?? The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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On October 27, 2007, we received from Pam Birley from Great Britain these pictures of an unidentified gull which she had just photographed using the remote camera 5 at Race Rocks.

David Allinson has helped us with the identification:” In short, the bird is not identifiable to species…most likely a hybrid gull also with partial hypermelanism (high melanism – darker than normal plumage and/or an example of some other complex colour abnormality which has caused its legs and bill to be darker (carotenism) — caused by either genetic defect, environmental factors, and/or stress during development or moult). This bird is most likely a Glaucous-winged with Western Gull genes (or a Western Gull with Glaucous-winged genes!). However, the head seems proportionately small which suggests possibility of some other lineage (Thayer’s or perhaps Herring).

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae
Genus Larus
Species spp.? (hybrid)
Common Name: Western Gull-type hybrid ?

Other Members of the Class Aves 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. October 2007-Pam Birley and David Allinson

Larus heermanni: Heermann’s Gull–The Race RocksTaxonomy

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ASHeermans-Gull-Heermann’s Gulls , (Larus heermanni) start turning up at Race Rocks in July.  On July 6 of this year a record number , 574 Heermann’s gulls were observed. This  was a notable increase from the 21 recorded a few days earlier The winter plumage is quite dark compared to the summer breeding plumage. They migrate here up from the breeding grounds in Mexico.

 

rmfall2010heermann

 

Ryan Murphy took this photo in 2010 showing features of the flight feathers.

On 574 Heermann’s gulls today which is a notable increase from the 21 recorded on Friday.

 

 

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae
Genus Larus
Species heermanni
Common Name: Heermann’s Gull,

See other posts on this website tagged with Heermann’s Gull