Category Archives: Species

Pleurosigma sp. Diatom –The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Photo from Wikipedia -Frank Fox
 

 

 

Organisms categorized within the genus Pleurosigma appear all over the world, regardless of location.  The genus is one of the larger groups of diatoms, containing hundred of different species and also making it very difficult to identify exact taxonomy of organisms.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Chromista
Subkingdom Chromobiota
Infrakingdom Heterokonta
Phylum Bacillariophyta
Class Bacillariophyceae
Subclass Bacillariophycidae
Order Naviculales
Family Pleurosigmataceae
Genus Pleurosigma
Species sp.?  possibly P. angulatum
Common Name: Diatom

Other members of the Phylum Bacillariophyta

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.

Thalassiothrix sp.

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mixture of Thallasiothrix and several other diaton species from a plankton tow.

 

Thallasiothrix microscopic view

 

 

From Phyto’pedia Length (apical axis): 10 – 110 μm
Width (transapical axis): 2 – 4 μm
Height (pervalvar axis): 3 – 8 μm
Marginal areolae: 10 – 12 in 10 μm
(Cupp 1943, Kraberg et al. 2010)

Commonly found in nutrient-rich upwelling regions (Abrantes 1988, cited in Kobayashi and Takahashi 2002). Its presence indicates conditions of high productivity (Schrader and Sorknes 1990, cited in Kobayashi and Takahashi 2002). Optimal temperature ∼15 °C (Resende 2007). Salinity range from ∼12 – 33 (Demir 2007, Burns 1977).

 

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Chromista
Subkingdom Chromobiota
Infrakingdom Heterokonta
Phylum Bacillariophyta
Class Bacillariophyceae
Subclass Bacillariophycidae
Order Thalassionematales
Family Thalassionemataceae
Genus Thallasiothrix
Species sp.?  possibly T fraunfeldi var. nitzschioides
Common Name: Diatom

Other members of the Phylum Bacillariophyta

taxonomy iconReturn 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.

 name –year (PC)

Ceratostoma foliata: Leafy hornmouth–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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A leafy hornmouth exposed at low tide

We see these often in the summer in the lower intertidal zone. Their yellow egg cases also show up on the underside of rocks. They have a sharp penetrating tongue with which they can penetrate the shells of other molluscs

 

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Subclass Prosobranchia
Order Neogastropoda
Suborder Rachiglossa
Family Muricidae
Genus Ceratostoma
Species foliata
Common Name: Leafy Hornmouth

Garry Fletcher

Mazzaella parksii: The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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mcornucopiae

Mazzaella parksii, photo by Ryan Murphy

Phylum: Rhodophyta
Class: Florideophyceae
Order: Gigatinales
Family: Gigartinaceae
Genus: Mazzaella
Species: parksii ( formerly M.cornucopiae)

Description: M. parksii is a clonal red alga that attaches to rock substrates in the intertidal zone. It ranges in colour from red to olive brown. Tufts of this plant reach 40 cm across, each lobe arising from the basal encrusting layer is up to 2 cm. in length
Habitat: On rocks in the middle and lower intertidal zones.
Pacific Coast Distribution: British Columbia to Mexico.

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File.

 

 

The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental pearsonlogo2_f2Systems 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

 

Flabellina verrucosa The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Flabellina verrucosa grazing on the hydroid Garveia. Photo by Ryan Murphy

In this image is Flabellina verrucosa the “Three-lined” aeolid which is seasonally abundant from Baja to Alaska (Behrens, 1991). Aeolids are opisthobranch gastropods known as sea slugs because they have lost their shells. This photo shows the nudibranch’s “oral tentacles” (bottom), ridged sensory antennae called “rhinophores”, “cerata” which contain stolen stinging cells for defense, and a “propodial tentacle”. This aeolid is common year-round at the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve where it is often observed feeding on hydroids such as Tubularia. To the left of it is thesmall Granulina m.
Macro images by Ryan Murphy

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Order Nudibranchia
Family Flabellinidae
Genus Flabellina
Species verrucosa
Common Name:nudibranch
Other molluscs 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

Dendronotus subramosus : Race Rocks Taxonomy

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An 8mm long nudibranch

Thanks to Karin Fletcher on iNaturalist for identifying this for us.  She indicated that D. subramosus lack lateral papillae on their rhinophore sheaths and can have brown lines along from their rhinophores along their dorsolateral processes

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/68751217

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum
Order 		 Mollusca
Nudibranchia
Class Gastropoda
Clade Dendronotida?
Suborder Dendronotacea?
Family Dendronotidae?
Genus Dendronotus
Species subramosus
Common Name:Stubby-fronted Dendronotus
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.

 October 2004-  (PC) Garry Fletcher

Unidentified “Clear” Shrimp? The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Malacostraca
Order Decapoda
Family
Genus
Species
Common Name: Clear Shrimp
Unidentified
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.

 

Classification of Isodictya rigida by H.M. Reiswig

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Identification of sponge fragment provided by G. Yahel, 15 June 2004, H. M. Reiswig, 26 July 2004 Label: “Iophon? 04.06.03 Race Rocks; Formalin 4%” First conclusion was tentative: Dictyonella sp., and unsatisfying since no species of this genus was known in B.C. waters; structure and body was more like Isodictya, but the rare isochelae spicules of that genus were not found in preliminary analysis.  After discussion with Bill Austin on Barkley Sound Cruise, I made a thorough examination of thick sections and found the rare isochela spicules, mainly in the atrial walls (older tissues).  I then made new spicule preparations of that region and was able to easily find 50 of the ‘rare’ spicules for measurement.

Revised conclusion (now with high confidence): Isodictya rigida (Lambe, 1893) [Originally Neoesperiopsis rigida; the same in Austin & Ott, 1997 (Kozlov)] Class: Demospongiae; Order: Poecilosclerida; Suborder: Mycalina;  Family: Isodictyidae; Genus: Isodictya Bowerbank, 1864

 

Isodictya rigida: finger sponge– Race Rocks Taxonomy

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isodictya

This image, taken by Russel Wyeth,assistant to Dr. Gitai Yahel  off the docks at Race Rocks, shows the intricate associations of other invertebrates sharing the same habitat.

juancarlosponge

Juan Carlos took these images while doing a video of the path for the tidal generator cable.

The biodiversity in locations which receive heavy current is considerable. Depth 12 meters.

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Porifera Class: Demospongiae Order: Poecilosclerida Suborder: Mycalina Family: Isodictyidae Genus: Isodictya Bowerbank, 1864 Species: rigida ( Lambe, 1893)

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students, faculty,volunteers,staff and researchers of Lester B. Pearson College
 Date: 2005 Dr. Gitai Yahel

Passer domesticus: House Sparrow- The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Passerifomes
Family Passeridae

Genus Passer
Species domesticus
Common Name: House Sparrow,  Passer domesticus

One of the worst introduced European species in North America because of their habit of preying on other nests in the area they are frequenting , 

Given that house sparrows are so common everywhere else, it is surprizing that they are rarely seen on Race Rocks. 

Normally this species can be quite damaging to other nesting birds but there are few other small birds that nest here other than the occasional barn swallow.

This bird was the subject of the Classic Paper by Bumpus on Limiting Factors 

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. Somealea Phoung PC year 34