Category Archives: Phylum Cnidaria

Haliclystus salpinx –Stalked jellyfish: The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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These animals are best desribed as “upside down” medusae, with their bell extended into a stalk which is attached, in the case of this species, mostly to surfgrass leaves. They occur from low intertidal to the subtidal littoral. They feed mostly on caprellid amphipods. Natural size up to 1cm :

 

Stalked Jellyfish Haliclystus salpinx

Stalked Jellyfish Haliclystus salpinx

Note update on Taxonomy of :STAUROZOA*

“Stauromedusae are little stalked jellyfishes that spend their entire life attached to the substrate (rock or algae, usually), rather than swimming freely up in the water column like most other jellyfish. They have long been considered to be in the Order Stauromedusae in the Class Scyphozoa of the Phylum Cnidaria, but recent morphological and molecular studies (Marques and Collins, 2004; Collins and Daly, 2005) argued convincingly that they should be elevated to a rank equal to both the Scyphozoa and Cubozoa, as the Staurozoa. For those who prefer to apply taxonomic ranks, these might now all be considered Classes, but many scientists are pulling away from the concept of tight adherence to the old hierarchies of rank, in which case just “Staurozoa” will do.” (C.Mills)

rm18910stalked

Image by Ryan Murphy of the habitat of this animal, showing attachment to eel grass. Taken at Swordfish Island at 4 metres depth.

The Haliclystus salpinx is among the order of cnidarians which the more commonly known are jelly fish. Unlike jelly fish however this family of cnidarians is not free floating but more or less fixed, and always attached to the blade of eelgrass. It occurs frequently in the eelgrass bed around Swordfish island and Emdyck Pass near Bentinck island adjacent to Race RocksIt moves on very slowly or by somersaulting itself from one plant to another. Its physiological makeup has not been studied in enough detail at the present time how ever it shares some characteristics with more documented species. The Haliclystus salpinxas can be seen by the photo appears as an upside down medusae or in common terms jelly fish with its tentacles pointing outwards. The bell of the hydroid is then attached to a stalk that is stationery on the eel grass. It is found in the tidal and intertidal zones rendering it more conducive to shallow water as opposed to deep water.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Staurozoa*
Order Stauromedusae
Suborder Eleutherocarpida
Family Lucernariinae
Genus Haliclystus
Species salpinx   (Clark, 1863)
COMMON NAME: Stalked Jellyfish

RANGE:

It is located most abundantly in the North Atlantic, Europe and Asia where areas are generally free external influences on rocky coasts. They are generally found in intertidal and tidal zones attached to surf grass.

REFERENCES CITED:

Mills, C.E. Internet 1999-2001. Stauromedusae: list of all valid species names. Electronic internet document available at http://faculty.washington.edu/cemills/Stauromedusae.html Published by author, web page established October 1999, last updated December 2nd 2001.

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students, faculty, volunteers and staff of Lester B. Pearson College– Dec 2001, by Sarah Gross

 

 

Anthopleura elegantissima: Aggregating Anemone-Race Rocks taxonomy

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rm18910anthopleura

Anthopleura growing in a moist crevasse. Photo by Ryan Murphy.

One of the many organisms found at Race Rocks are sea anemones. Sea anemones belong to the phylum known as the Cnidaria, from the cnida or stinging cells that are present in this major group of animals that also include corals, jellyfish, hydroids, medusae, and sea fans. Sea anemones, corals and their allies form the class know as the Anthozoa. Anthopleura elegantissima is abundant on rock faces or boulders, in tide pools or crevices, on wharf pilings, singly or in dense aggregations (Smith and Carlton, 1975)

 

 

 

 

 

anthopleur       Link to extended essay of Santiago on Anthopleura distribution in the intertidal zone.

 

 

 

 

maliha   Link to  the extended essay by Maliha Zahid on Anthopleura-elegantissima-Distribution

 

 

 

 

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa
Subclass Zoantharia
Order Actiniatia
Family Actiniidae
Genus Anthopleura
Species elegantissima
Common Name Aggregating Anemone

 

Characteristics:

  • The aggregating anenome is 2-5 cm in column diameter and 4-5 cm high in its clonal form.
  • The tentacular crown is roughly 8 centimeters in diameter.
  • The species presents numerous short tentacles, in five or more cycles, which are variously colored.
  • At the bases of its tentacles are bulbous structures where certain types of stinging capsules are concentrated.
  • The column is light green to white, and twice as long as wide when extended, with longitudinal rows of adhesive tubercles (verrucae)
  • Rock, sand, and shell fragments accumulate on anenome by adhering to the tubercles on the column.
  • The anenome is a green or olive colour depending on the algae living in its tissues.

Habitat:

It is a species characteristic of middle intertidal zone of semi protected rocky shores of both bays and outer coast from Alaska to Baja California.

Reproduction:

Anthopleura elegantissima reproduces both sexually and asexually. In sexual reproduction, ova are present as early as February and grow steadily until their release in July; the ovarian is then resorbed and new eggs do not appear until the following February. Sperm are released through the summer. The asexual reproduction occurs by longitudinal fission. This process results in aggregations or clones of anemones pressed together in concentrations of several hundred per square meter.

Ecological Niche:

  • Anthopleura elegantissima is a carnivore, feeding on small crustacians such as copepods, isopods, amphipods, and other small animals that contact the tentacles.
  • It is preyed upon by the nudibranch Aeolidia papillosa, which usually attacks the column, by the nail Epitonium tinctum, which attacks the tips of the tentacles, and by sea stars such as Dermasterias imbricata that can engulf an entire small anemone.
  • Moreover, in some anemones, small pink amphipods, Allogaussia recondita, make a home in the gastro vascular cavity. Two types of unicellular algae live in the tissues ofAnthopleura elegantissima in a symbiotic relationship. It is these algae that give the anenome its distinctive green or olive colour.

Interesting Further Studies:

  • Ecological niche study was conducted by Santiago, Pearson College Student 1998-2000../../research/santiago/santiago.htm
  • The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has investigated using aggregating anenome as a test for salinity. This bioindicator would be used to see the freshwater influx in ocean environments. http://es.epa.gov/ncer/fellow/progress/99/cohenri00.html
  • The behaviour of Anthopleura elegantissima at different depths.
  • The reproduction cycle of Anthopleura elegantissima.
  • Further study of aggregating anenomes at Race Rocks.

References:

  • Kozloff, Eugene N. Seashore Life of the Northern Pacific Coast. (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1983).
  • Kozloff, Eugene N. Keys to the Marine Invertebrates of Puget Sound, the San Juan Archipelago, and Adjacent Regions. (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1974).
  • Morris, R.H. etal. Intertidal Invertebrates of California. (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1980).

 

Seasonality of hydroids from an intertidal pool at Race Rocks

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SCI. MAR., 60 (1): 89-97

SCIENTIA MARINA 1996 ADVANCES IN HYDROZOAN BIOLOGY, S. PIRAINO, F. BOERO, J. BOUILLON, P.F.S. CORNELIUS and J.M. GILI (eds.)

Seasonality of hydroids (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria) from an intertidal pool and adjacent subtidal habitats at Race Rocks, off Vancouver Island, Canada*

A. BRINCKMANN-VOSS

Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2C6, Canada.

(Mailing address: P. 0. Box 653, Sooke, British Columbia VOS 1NO, Canada)
( now deceased) .

*Received November 29, 1994, Accepted October 20, 1995

SUMMARY: An assemblage of 27 hydroid species was reported from a tide pool in the lower rocky intertidal zone, and compared with 42 hydroids of the adjacent subtidal region. Location of hydroids within the pool, seasonal occurrence, growth and sexual maturity were tabulated, and some systematic aspects discussed . Possible causes of hydroid species diversity were considered, including location of the tide pool in an area of tidal rapids, and shading by surfgrass and rock cliffs during low tide.

Key words: tide pools, hydroids, seasonality, Pacific coast.

INTRODUCTION

Invertebrate species diversity is high around Race Rocks (48′ 18′ N, 123′ 32′ E), an archipelago in the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Vancouver Island, Canada, and Washington state, USA. (Fig.1,2). Although publications of marine invertebrates are available for the areas to the east and west of Race Rocks (Henkel, 1906; Fraser, 1913; Kozloff, 1983), information about invertebrates from Race Rocks is mostly limited to personal observations or unpublished reports: P. Breen, Pacific Biological Station Nanaimo, Dpt.Fisheries and Oceans; P. Lambert, curator of invertebrates, Royal British Columbia Museum; Garry Fletcher and student essays from Lester Pearson College of the Pacific: in Race Rocks Ecological reserves #97 publications list 1988-1994). Because of its rich biota, the area is now protected as an ecological reserve. Research on hydroids there, started in 1984, continues today by permit.

Taxonomic investigations have been published previously to characterize some of the hydroid species mainly from a tide pool on the west side of Great” (great is ommitted trom here on) Race Rocks (Brinck-mann-Voss 1988; Brinckmann-Voss et al., 1993) . However, information about the cornpositon and distribution of hydroid species in the pool is lacking, as is a comparison of its hydroid fauna with that of the surrounding intertidal and adjacent subtidal shelf.

The purpose of this paper is, therefore, to provide information on the hydroids of a cold temperate tide pool with regard to seasonal occurrence, growth and regression, and reproductive periodicities. This research is intended as essentially a faunal study rather than a dedicated ecological work employing methods and analysis such as described for rocky shores by Paine (1994).

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FIG. 1. Map of southwestern British Columbia,with location of the Race Rocks archipelago,

 

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA

The study area may be classified as protected outer coast, the main island of Race Rocks being protected by surrounding rocks and reefs . The west and north sides of the island are swept by very swift tidal rapids with a maximum velocity of 3 m /s (Fig.2). The average maximum velocity for the first half of June 1995 , which included a neap and leap tide, was calculated at 2.7 m/s (Canadian Tide and Current Tables, 1995).

The tide pool studied here is located on the west side of the island in the low intertidal zone in the middle of the Pseudobalanus cariosus – Mytilus californianus – Pollicipes polymerus belt (Lewis, 1964; Ricketts and Calvin, 1968; Carefoot, 1977). It may be classified as “Ic” after the pool classification summarized by Thomas (1983). The pool surface emerges at 1.5 m above 0 tide level (0 represents the chart datum in Canadian Tide and Current Tables) (Figs.3,5).

 

FiG. 2. – Island of (Great) Race Rocks, with location of the tide pool

As: A .Opposing arrows: area of very strong tidal currents, changing

direction in ebb and flood tide.

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FIG. 3. – December tidal curve of Race Rocks (Victoria) area…… emersion period of tide pool (modified from Canadian Tide and Current Tables 1992).

Emersion of the pool surface is most obvious at leap tides. Although the pool may be exposed even at neap tides, waves and swells keep it awash, especially in stormy winter weather. During the emersion periods at leap tides, the pool does not drain and its water level changes are minimal. It is situated between a high cliff on the island side and a lower cliff toward the open sea. These two cliffs join at the north and south sides of the pool, thus forming a deep trough . Once emersed the pool is about 8m by 1.5m, slightly less wide in its northern part, with a maximum depth of 0.8m (Fig.4). It narrows in the middle with an exposed rock creating a small island (Fig.5). During incoming tide this is the first area to be flooded.

The surface temperature of the sea around Race Rocks varies during the year between 7 degrees C and 12 degrees C. Contrary to conditions in a shallow pool (without hydroids) 2m higher in the same area, surface and bottom temperatures in the lower and deeper pool, abundant with hydroids, scarcely differ from the sea temperature. Only during summer low tides, when the sun reaches the pool during the second third of the emersion period, are surface temperatures higher (2’C, rarely 42C )than the bottom temperatures or in the surrounding sea. Water temperatures were checked only February to October, because of the pool’s relative inaccessability in winter.

Unlike in the higher pool, salinities in the pool correspond with that of the adjacent sea (29-30%o, measurements provided partly by Garry Fletcher) from February to October.

No measurements of salinity and temperature were taken from November to January. However, the state of the surfgrass (Phyllospadix scouleri) lining the upper rim of the pool indicated that heavy winter rains in combination with low temperatures (Tokioka, 1963) impact the intertidal environment, including the rock pool. Lewis (1964), Carefoot (1977), and Thomas (1983) report on similar destructive effects of winter rains. The study area also encompassed the rocky infralittoral and subtidal, extending from 0-18m depth, to a distance of about 50 m from the shore around Race Rocks.

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Flci. 4. – Diagram of central area of tide pool, with locations of hydroids. NumL)ers represent the hydroict species listed in Table 1. Affow pointing fmm open water to tide pool: first water or spray during flooding. The rock in the center forms a small islet during emersion. The ledge is an underwater shelf about 10 cm below surface during emersion.

 MATERIAL AND METHODS

Collections of hydroids from the tide pool were made from March to October, over a period from 1984 to 1994.

Hydroid specimens were returned live to the laboratory, where they were examined and some photographed. Many were cultured to establish their identity, especially when specimens were collected in the hydrorhiza stage only. Species, depth and location of the hydroids were mapped on a diagram on the site.

Samples from the sublittoral shelf were taken by divers. The samples that were collected included both hydroids and a variety of bottom material, such as kelp holdfasts, barnacles, and mussels. These substrates were examined for small hydroids in the laboratory.

RESULTS

Approximately 27 hydroid species were found in a tide pool in the intertidal zone, and 42 on the subtidal rocky shelf including the infralittoral fringe west and north of the island. Of these, 18 species are common in both their tide pool and subtidal area. The distribution of hydroids and seasonal occurrence in the tide pool are summarized in Fig.4 and tables 1-2. Hydroids from subtidal habitats including the infralittoral fringe are listed in Table 3.

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FiG. 5. – Cross-section of tide pool at area of rock in center of pool.

A: High water of high spring tide. B: Emersion level of tide PWI.

C: Lower low water of spring tide. A to C represent the intertidalregion. S: Surface of tide pool at 1.5 m tide level and lower tides.

P: phyllospadix scouleir belt, located 1.5 m higher in the pool than on the open shore, where it can be found at the border between the intertidal and subtidal, marked as C

Except for one hydroid species (Rhizogeton nudus) among the stalks of Pollicipes polymerus, no hydroids were found in the intertidal outside the pool between pool and infralitioral fringe.

Species composition of the pool and of adjacent subtidal regions was similar, with a few notable exceptions: luxurious colonies of Sarsia eximia and Phialella sp. occurred on the rhizomes of Phyllospadix sculeri (Zosteraceae, Angiospermeae) lining the rim of the rock pool, but these species were less abundant in the Phyllospadix scouleri belt of the infralittoral of the open coast, (for location of Phyllospadix scouleri see Fig.5). Conversely, larger species of the Sertulariidae were more diverse and abundant subtidally than in the pool. Plumularia setacea was common in the pool but less so subtidally, whereas Plumulara lagenifera was not found in the pool, but was abundant subtidally.

Hydroids of the tide pool were referrable to three groups. Group A showed marked seasonal cycles of activity and regression, with hydroid colonies represented during a dormant phase by hydrorhizae only. Species of group B were present periodically as small colonies, typically in early spring, and then enlarged during late spring and summer. Group C included species in which the activity patterns and colony sizes remained relatively unchanged throughout the year.

Included in group A was Hybocodon prolifer, abundant and fertile in late winter and spring, but reduced only to stolons in summer and fall. Sarsia eximia and Phialelia sp. (described by Boero 1987, but not named), living among the rhizomes of Phyllospadix scouleri plants (Zosteraceae), were reduced to hydrorhiza or to small colonies with a few sterile hydranths in late winter and spring. Both species occurred as large and fertile colonies in summer spreading occasionally onto the outer dead leaf sheadi of Phyllospadix or onto the surrounding rocks.

Peak reproduction was in June and July for Sarsia eximia and in September for Phialella sp.

Species of group B (e.g. Orthopyxis integral Obelia dichotoma, Garveia annulata, and Clavactinia sp.) were present as small patches in early spring. By late summer their colonies had enlarged and stolonal species covered wide areas on the rock walls of the pool. In Clavactinia sp., reduction and expansion of the same colony was observed over a period of two years.

Species assigned to group C changed little in colony size during the year. These included representatives of the families Stylasteridae, Plumulariidae, and Sertulariidae. This may be related to their morphology, as their hydranths are more protected through the extensive perisarc of the colony, than species of group A and B.

DISCUSSION

Systematics: The taxonomy of hydroids from the northeastern Pacific, and especially of the Leptothecatae (terminology after Cornelius, 1992), is inadequately known. A large number of species has been reported from the area by Fraser (1913,1937), and before him by authors including Nutting (190015), Torrey (1902), and Clark (1876, 1877). However, many specimens collected from Race Rocks and adjacent areas do not correspond with descriptions of such species, a problem discussed by Brinckmann-Voss (1983) and Mills and Miller (1987). Detailed monographic revision is therefore needed from hydroids of the northeast Pacific. Comparisons are warranted with the hydroid fauna of the northwest Pacific (Yamada, 1959; Naumov, 1960; Antsulevich, 1992; Antsulevich and Vervoort, 1993), and with that of the circumpolar Arctic (Broch, 1909), as done by Kramp (1959, 1965, 1968) for the hydromedusae.

Accordingly, several species in this paper were identified only to the genus level (Tables 1-3). Work is currently underway on the Plumulariidae from Race Rocks and elsewhere on the British Columbia coast (Brinckmann-Voss and Calder, unpublish data). Changes of family and genus were made of two species of Anthoathecatac. Hataia parva Hirai and Yamada 1965, previously assigned to the Clavidae, is assigned here to the Acaulidae. Features described in the original (Hirai and Yamada, 1965) and in recent (Yamada and Kubota, 1989) work on the species as to its solitary nature, mode of asexual reproduction, and presence of stenoteles, justified placing Hataia near the genus Acaulis Stimpson, family Acaulidae. A species identified as Hydractinia milleri Torrey 1902 in Morris et al. (1980) is tentatively referred to the genus Clavactinia Thomely as Clavactinia sp. because its gastrozooids have several whorls of tentacles (Millard, 1975). The species listed in Morris, Abbott and Haderlie and found in the Race Rocks area is distinguished from H. milleri Torrey in

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TABLE 1. Distribution of hydroids in the Race Rocks tide pool. Numbers refer to locations in the pool (as in Fig. 4).

Species

Anthoathecatae

Clavidae

Rhizogeton ezoense Yamada,1964

Eudendriidae

Eudendrium sp.

Bougainvilliidae

Bougainvillia ramosa (van Beneden , I 844)

Garveia annulata Nutting, 1901

Rhizorhagium roseum M.Sars, 1874

Rhysiidae

Rhysia fletcheri Brinckmann-Voss, Lickey, Mills, 1993

Hydractiniidae

Hydractinia armatata Fraser, 1940
Clavactinia sp.

Stylasteridae

Stylantheca petrograpta (Fisher, 1938)

Acaulidae

Hataia parva Hirai and Yamada, 1 965

Tubulariidae

Tubularia marina Toney, 1902

Hybocodon prolifer L.Agassiz, 1 862

Corynidae

Sarsia eximia (Allman,1859) (on rhizomes of Phyllospadix)

Leptothecatae

Calycellidae

Calycella syringa (Linnaeus, 1767)

Aequoreidae

Aequorea victoriae (Murbach and Shearer, 1902)

Phialellidae

Phialella sp. (on rhizomes of Phyllospadix)

Haleciidae

Hydrodendron sp .

Halecium pygmaeum Fraser, 1911

Campanularidae

Obelia dichotoma (Linnaeus, 1758)

Campanularia ritteri Nutting, 1901

Canpanularia volubilis (Linnaeus,1758)

Laomedea exiguae M.Sars,1857

Orthopyxis integra (Mugillivray,1942)

Clytia sp. (on Mytilus)

Sertulariidae

Symplectoscyphus turgidus (Trask,1857)

 Abietinaria amphora Nutting, 1904

Plumulariidae

Plumularia setacea (Linnaeus, 1758)

 

 

having several purple eggs per gonophore, in lacking spines on the colony, and in having two types of gastrozooids. Torrey (1902) originally described H. milleri from Monterey Bay, California, and reported only one orange egg per gonophore. Mills and Miller (1978) also reported Hydractinia milleri with one egg. Clavactinia sp. is common on rock walls in the tide pool, and on rockwalls and overhangs in sheltered spots exposed during tides below the 0 level or chart datum (in Canadian tide and current tables 1984-1995). A description of this species is in preparation, together with a revision of the Hydractiniidae of the British Columbia coast (Brinckmann-Voss, unpublished data).

. Ecological remarks: Although tide pools have

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been studied frequently in different parts Of the world, little research has been published about them. Most work on tide pools has involved studies of algae and their reaction to changing salinity, temperature, desiccation, sometimes in comparison to open waters (Doty, 1957; Lewis, 1964; Carefoot, 1977; Newell, 1979; Thomas, 1983). More detailed investigation on fauna and flora of tidepools was reported by Stephenson et al. (1934), Pyefinch (1943), and Emson (1986), but there is very little information on hydroids in such pools. This is probably because the hydroid fauna of the intertidat zones – except for the infralittoral fringe (Stephenson and Stephenson, 1972; Carefoot, 1977; Kozloff, 1983; Calder, 1991 a,b) – is rather limited, as papers on intertidal zonation show (e.g. Southward, 1958; Ricketts and Calvin, 1968). Cornelius (1988) listed the hydroid fauna of tide pools at Holme next the Sea (U.K.), but in that case the hydroids were swept in from offshore areas, and were not autochthonous to the pool.

Some of the references cited above may help explain the diversity and abundance of hydroids in the Race Rocks tide pool:

1. Doty (1957) mentioned the abundance of organisms at the rim of tide pools, probably related to the “edge effect” reported by other ecologists (Carefoot, 1977). It may be assumed that the luxurious colonies of Phialella sp. and Sarsia eximia in the root system of the surfgrass immediately below the water surface of the pool could be related tothis edge effect, although its cause may be difficult to pinpoint.

2. Wedler (1975), studying comparable sites, reported of a greater abundance of hydroids in shaded than in sunny areas , where algae tend to dominate. (The same was observed by the author on the shaded and sunny side of floating docks). The qualitative and quantitative abundance of hydroids and relatively few algae in the pool may be influenced by this “shade ” effect, because the pool is shaded during emersion by the leaves of the surfgrass which form a canopy on its surface.

3. Lewis (1964) reported the influence of different velocities of tidal rapids on the intertidal fauna. From that work it may be inferred that the tidal rapids sweeping the tide pool area of Race Rocks

TABLE 2. – Seasonality of hydroids in the Race Rocks tide pool, March to October. Smaller and less abundant hydroid species, difficult to detect without taking material out of the pool, are marked (?); species with living hydranths absent were marked (-); those with hydranths present (+); those with gonads < colonies augmenting in size, > diminishing in size. For authors see table I play an important role in the establishment of the hydroid fauna there.

Species M A M J J A S O

Anthoathecatae

Clavidae

Rhizogeton ezoe se – – + – ++ ++ + +

Eudendriidae

Eudendrium sp. + + + + + + + +

Bougainvilliidae

Bougainvillia ramosa + + + + + + + +

Garveia annulata + +< ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

Rhizorhagium roseum + + ++ ++ + ? ? ?

Rhysiidae

Rhysia fletcheri + ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

Hydractiniidae

Hydractinia armata – + < ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

Clavactinia sp. + + ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

Stylasteriidae

Stylantheca petrograpta + + + + + + + +

Acaulidae

Hataia parva ? ? ? + ? ? ? ?

Tubulariidae

Tubularia marina – – ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

Hybocodon prolifer ++ ++ + – – – – –

Corynidae

Sarsia eximia + ++ ++ ++ >+ + + +

Leptothecatae

Calycellidae

Calycella syringe ? ? ++ ++ ++ ++ + +

Aequoreidae
Aequorea victoriae Phialellidae? ? ? ? + ? ? ?

Phiatella sp. < ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ >

Haleciidae

Halecium pymaeum + + + ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

Hydrodendron sp. + + + + + + + +

Campanulariidae

Obelia dichotoma + <++ <++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

Campanularia ritteri + + ++ ++ ++ + + +

Campanularia volubilis + ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

Orthopyxis integra + <+ <++ <++ ++ ++ ++ ++

Laomedea exigua ? ? ? ? ? ++ ? ?

Clytia sp. ? ? ? + ++ ++ ++ ++

Sertulariidae

Symplectoscyphus turgidu s + + ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

Abietinaria amphora ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

Plumulariidae

Plumularia setacea + ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

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TABLE 3. – Hydroids identified from the infralittoral fringe and subtidal areas of Race Rocks, to a depth of 18 m, mostly west and north of the tide pool. Asterisks indicate species which were also found in the tide pool.

Anthoathecatae

Clavidae

Rhizogeton nematophorum Antsulevich, 1986

Rhizogeton ezoense* Yamada, 1964

Rhizogeton nudus Broch, 1910

Eudendriidae

Eudendrium sp. (probably not same species as in tide pool) Bougainvilliidae

Bougainvillia sp. (not ramosa)

Garveia annulata* Nutting, 1901

Rhizorhagium roseum* M.Sars, 1864

Rhysiidae

Rhysia fletcheri* Brinckmann-Voss, Lickey and Mills, 1993 Hydractiniidae

Hydractinia armata* Fraser, 1940

Hydractinia laevispina Fraser, 1922

Clavactinia sp. *

Stylasteridae

Stylantheca petrograpta* (Fisher, 1938)

Stylaster venustus (Verrill, 1870)

Tubulariidae

Tubularia marina* Torrey, 1902

Tubularia sp. (less than 12 aboral tentacles)

Corynidae

Coryne crassa Fraser, 1914

Sarsia eximia* (Allman, 1859)

Sarsiaproducta (Wright, 1858)

Sarsia tubulosa (M.Sars, 1835)

Leptothecatae

Calycellidae

Calycella syringa* (Linnaeus, 1767)

Filellum sp. (?parasiticum Antsulevich 1987)

Haleciidae

Hydrodendron gracile (Fraser, 1914)

 Halecium pygmaeum* Fraser, 191 1

Lafoeidae

Hebella sp.

Campanulariidae

Campanularia ritteri* Nutting, 1901

Campanularia volubilis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Campanularia sp.

Clytia sp.

Obelia dichotoma* (Linnaeus, 1758)

Orthopyxis Integra

Sertulariidae

Abietinaria abietina (Linnaeus, 1758)

Abietinaria amphora* Nutting, 1904

Abietinaria greenei (Murray, 1860)

Abietinaria anguina (Trask, 1857)

Hydrallmania distans Nutting, 1899

Symplectoscyphus turgidus* (Trask, 1857)

Symplectoscyphus sp. tricuspidatus? (Alder, 1856)

Thuiaria sp.

Aglaopheniidae

Aglaophenia inconspicua Torrey, 1904

 Aglaophenia latirostris Nutting, 1900

Plumulariidae

Plumularia setacea*(Linnaeus, 1758)

Plumularia lagenifera Allman, 1885

Kirchenpaueriidae

Kirchenpaueria plumularoides (Clark, 1876)

Work on seasonality of hydroids has been done in different marine environments and climates (Riedl, 1959; Bouillon, 1975; Wedler, 1975; Boero and Fresi, 1986; Brinckmann-Voss, 1987; Calder, 1990; Garcia-Rubies, 1987,1992). Seasonal changes in the Race Rocks tide pool are most evident from late fall to spring – mainly on the species near the surface, when a marked regression occurs in numerous species. This regression is most likely caused by dilution of surface salinities during rain storms in the low winter tides (Carefoot, 1977; Thomas, 1983).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Research for this paper would not have been possible without the help of Garry Fletcher (senior biologist), Theo Dombrowsky and students of the Lester Pearson College of the Pacific (Metchosin, B.C., Canada). I thank them and the administration of the College for their help. Garry Fletcher introduced me to the tide pool on Race Rocks, instructed his students in searches for hydroids by diving, and made numerous collections by diving himself. Joan and Charles Redhead, former lighthouse keepers at Race Rocks, allowed me to stay at their lighthouse residence for several days during low tide periods, which allowed me to go back to the tide pool and check details during the same low tide period. I acknowledge their hospitality and help. Dale Calder (Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada) helped with this paper from its early stages through numerous discussions, advice and reviews, for which I am very thankful. I thank Paul Cornelius ( Natural History Museum, London, U.K.) for all help, especially with search for ecological literature, and I thank Stephen Cairns (National Museum of Natural History, Washington, U.S.A.) for identifying the Stylasteridae.

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 PLEASE NOTE: THIS VERSION HAS BEEN SCANNED BY OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION. MOST HAS BEEN CORRECTED BUT IT MAY STILL HAVE A FEW ERRORS. -GF

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Rhysia fletcheri (a new species of colonial hydroid from Vancouver Island, BC, Canada)

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Permission for reproduction of this paper has been granted by the Canadian Journal of Zoology and the Author. Color images have been taken by A.B.V. and D.M.L. and were added to this html document by G.Fletcher. 

p.401 , Vol 71, 1993 Rhysia fletcheri (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Rhysiidae), a new species of colonial hydroid from Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada) and the San Juan Archipelago (Washington, U.S.A.)A. BRINCKMANN-VOSS
Department of lnvertebrate Zoology, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ont., Canada M55 2C6And D. M. LICKEY AND C. E. MILLS, Friday Harbor laboratories, University of Washington, 620 University Road, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, U.S.A.Received February 28, 1992 Accepted September 17, 1992BRINCKMANN-VOSS, A., LICKEY, D. M., and MILLS, C. E. 1993. Rhysia fletcheri (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Rhysiidae), a new species of colonial hydroid from Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada) and the San Juan Archipelago (Washington, U.S.A.).
Can. J. Zool. 71: 401-406.

hydrfeme

A group of females

A new species of colonial athecate hydroid, Rhysia fletcheri, is described from Vancouver Island, British Columbia Canada, and from Friday Harbor, Washington, U.S.A. Its relationship to Rhysia autumnalis Brinckmann from the Mediterranean and Rhysia halecii (Hickson and Gravely) from the Antarctic and Japan is discussed. Rhysia fletcheri differs from Rhysia autumnalis and Rhysia halecii in the gastrozooid having distinctive cnidocyst clusters on its hypostome and few, thick tentacles. Most of its female gonozooids have no tentacles. Colonies of R. fletcheriare without dactylozooids. The majority of R. fletcheri colonies are found growing on large barnacles or among the hydrorhiza of large thecate hydrozoans. Rhysia fletcheri occurs in relatively sheltered waters of the San Juan Islands and on the exposed rocky coast of southern Vancouver Island.

rhysiamale

c. (a group of males.. relaxed)

rhysiamalecontr

b. -( group of males ..contracted.)

 

 

 

 

On trouvera ici la description d’un nouvelle espece d’hydroide colonial sans theque. Rhysia fletcheri, trouvee dans l’ile de Vancouver en Colombie-Britannique, Canada, et a Friday Harbor, Washington, Etats-Unis. Sa relation avec Rhysia autumnalis Brinckmann en Medlterrannee et Rhysia halecii (Hickson and Gravely), de l’Antarctique et du Japon, fait l’objet d’une discussion. Rhysia fletcheri differe des deux autres especes par la presence chez le gastrozooide de faisceaux tres particuliers de cnidocystes sur l’ hypostome et de tentacules epais et peu nombreux. La plupart des gonozooides femelles sont depourvus de tentacules. Les colonies de R. fletcheri ne comportent pas de dactylozooides. La majorite des colonies de R. Fletcheri crois sent sur les grosses balanes ou parmi les hydrorhizes des gros hydrozoaires a theque. Rhysia Fletcheri se trouve dans les eaux relativement protegees des iles San Juan et sur la cote rocheuse exposee du sud de l’ile de Vancouver. [Traduit par la redaction.]
Introduction:Colonies of a hydroid species belonging to the genus Rhysia Brinckmann, 1965 were collected off Friday Harbor in Washington State, U.S.A., from 1972 to 1992. They were found in tide pools at Race Rocks, British Columbia, Canada, and from adjacent coastal regions of Vancouver Island between 1986 and 1992. The species is referable to the hydrozoan family Rhysiidae, and to the genusRhysia, in having gonads within the body wall along one side of the gonozooid. However, it differs from previously described species of the genus in having cnidocysts arranged in clusters on the hypostome of the gastrozooid, and in having fewer and thicker tentacles on the gastrozooid, and no dactylozooids. The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic and ecological account of Rhysia fletcheri sp.nov. The species is compared with Rhysia autumnalis Brinckmann, 1965, type species of the genus Rhysia, and with Stylactis halecii Hickson and Gravely, 1907. The latter species has lateral gonads, as doR. autumnalis and R. fletcheri sp.nov., and is assigned here to the genus Rhysia as well.ETYMOL0GY: Rhysia fletcheri is named for Garry Fletcher, senior biologist at Pearson College and voluntary warden of the Ecological Reserve of Race Rocks, British Columbia, Canada, who was instrumental in establishing Race Rocks as an Ecological Reserve in 1980.

  • Systematic account:
  • FAMILY Rhysiidae Brinckmann, 1965
  • GENUS Rhysia Brinckmann, 1965
  • Rhysia fletcheri sp.nov

 

Material examined:

rhysiaonvalve

Growing on the valves of the barnacle Balanus nubilus , female and male colony .(.click on picture) . Top left, two females, below left gastrozooids: below right – male.

Holotype: Friday Harbor, Washington, U.S.A., on Balanus nubilis attached to a tire on the side of floating docks at Friday Harbor Laboratories of the University of Washington, 0.5 m, 5 October 1984, female colony, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Cat. No. USNM 73984.

Paratypes: Race Rocks, British Columbia, Canada, on Semibalanus cariosus in tide pool, 0.5 m, 5 April 1990, male colony, Royal Ontario Museum Cat. No. ROMIZ B1164;

Friday Harbor, Washington, on hydrorhiza of a thecate hydroid colony, 10-15 m, October 1972, female colony,

Royal Ontario Museum Cat. No. ROMIZ B1165; Race Rocks, British Columbia, on Semibalanus cariosus in tide pool, 0.5 m, 15 June 1991, female and male colony, Royal British Columbia Museum Cat. No. RBCM 992-170-1.

Further material is deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, England.

Description:

Hydroid colony stolonal, arising from a creeping and anastomosing hydrorhiza. Hydrorhiza thick (averaging 0.05 mm), covered with a very thin and often virtually invisible perisarc (Fig. 2a), giving rise to gastrozooids and gonozooids. Zooids inserting with hydrorhiza via a broad base and without a neck or stem (Figs. Ia, 2a); perisarcal collar absent around bases of zooids. Gastrozooids widely scattered, occurring singly or in a loose group. Gastrozooids extremely contractile, 0.3÷1.0 mm long, appearing columnar to barrel-shaped or like a contracted sea anemone if exposed to strong light (compare Figs. Ia and 4a).

(Page 402)

rhysiafig1

Figure 1. Rhysia fletcheri, gastrozooid, relaxed, preserved. (a) Whole animal, (b) oral region. Scale bars =0.1 mm.

Gastrozocid tentacles 4 – 10, filiform, in a single whorl, 0.08 – 0.10 mm thick depending on the degree of contraction, each with more than 30 endodermal cells, cnidocysts arranged in a more or less distinct spiral (Fig. lb). Hypostome round, surrounded by a circle of 4 or 5 cnidocyst clusters that do not develop into tentacles (Figs. 2e, 2f, 4a). Gonozooids often separated from gastrozooids by several millimetres, occurring in dense clusters (Figs. 3, 4}. Gonads developing internally on one side of gonozooid, without a gonophore (Figs. 4b, 4c). Female gonozooids up to 1.1 mm high when mature (Figs. 3a÷3d); hypostome round, provided with a cap of cnidocysts, not divided into separate clusters as in gastrozooid; mouth lacking; tentacles typically lacking; in gastrozooid; mouth lacking; tentacles typically lacking; immature female gonozooids, at a stage not more than 115 the height of a mature gonozooid, being recognizable as such in showing an egg on one side. Male gonozooids develop 3 or 4 oral tentacles, which are shorter and thinner than those of gas- trozooids, each tentacle has up to 10 endodermal cells and bears cnidocysts at the tip only, some with thickened tips(Figs. 2c, 4b) because of the presence of larger numbers of cnidocysts (this varies among colonies); hypostome of males round, more conical than in females, provided with evenly distributed cnidocysts, unlike the cnidocyst clusters typical of gastrozooids; mouth lacking. Male gonozooids with mature gonads sometimes exceeding gastrozooids in length, reaching a maximum of 1.5 mm.

Dactylozooids absent.

Gastrozooids and gonozooids pink to orange, due to the colour of the endoderm; tentacles and hypostomes milky white; eggs and planulae peach coloured; male gonads milky white in early stages, iridescent in later stages.

rhysiagastrozooidCnidocysts: large microbasic euryteles (average 10; 20.2/1 9.6 um) (height/diameter) when exploded; small microbasic euryteles (average 10; 9.6/4.8 um when exploded); desmonemes (not measured).

 

 

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