Tag Archives: Phaeophyta

Macrocystis integrifolia: Giant Kelp–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Macrocystis integrifoia photo by G.Fletcher

 


Macrocystis (Greek=Large bladder), the largest of all seaweeds, is represented by two species along the outer shores of British Columbia.
Macrocystis integrifolia is the most common species, distributed from Alaska to Monterrey, where it normally inhabits the lower intertidal and upper subtidal regions in areas subjected to moderate waves.
Description: This species of kelp forms extensive forests and is one of the largest and most complex algae. Floating at or near the sea surface, extensive masses of beds with rich-brown leaf-like blades 25 to 35 cm long by 5 cm wide.The blade or lamina is wrinkled or grooved in an irregular pattern and each is bouyed up at its origin by a small pneumatocyst. The blade edge is lined with toothlike projections.The terminal blade, located at the apex of the stipe, is split from the base with several new leaf-like branches in various stages of separation.(see photo above) The lamina of this kelp grow throughout the length of the stipe of the algae instead of only at the terminal region near the surface.Thus a dense forest is established which serves as a valuable habitat for many species of fish and invertebrates.

Habitat and Distribution:
Macrocystis integrifolia occurs in the very lowest portion of intertidal and in subtidal waters 7 to 10 m deep. It favors areas exposed to the open sea but somewhat sheltered from the full force of heavy wave action. It does not seem to grow in areas with salinity lower than that of the open coastal waters, so it is not found completely into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The closest beds we know of to Race Rocks are at Sooke.

macrocystis-at-sookeThis video provides a good portrait of Macrocystis in a shallow habitat at Sooke BC

After the first large storms in October, Macrocystis will end up in tangled masses with Nereocystis on the beaches at Race Rocks and on other beaches on Southern Vancouver Island such as Taylor Beach.
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Chromophyta
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Laminariales
Family: Lessoniaceae
Genus: Macrocystis
Species: integrifolia (Bory)
Common Name: Giant Kelp
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. Matthieu Bakhoun, PC yr 28

 

Leathesia difformis: Sea cauliflower–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Leastheasia difformis.. G. Fletcher photo

Leathesia is a brown kelp. It is found in the itertidal zone around Race Rocks. It is a small brown alga that is usually found in the form of small hollow irregular balls, it is called Sea Cauliflower because it looks like cauliflower due to the invaginations on the surface of the hollow irregular balls.

Description: This plant is spherical and solid when young, becoming irregularly convoluted, hollow and broadly expanded at maturity; it is spongy in texture, up to 12 cm. in diameter and yellowish brown in colour.

Habitat: On rocks and epiphytic on other algae in the intertidal.Pacific Coast Distribution: Bering Sea to Mexico.    Robert Scagel, 1972
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Protista
Division Phaeaophyta
Class Phaeophyceae
Order Chordariales
Family Chorynoplaeaceae
Genus Leathesia
Species difformis
Common Name: Sea Cauliflower

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.

original by Jana Morehouse, PC 2002

 

Leathesia difformis: sea caulifower– the Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Leathesia difformis photos by Ryan Murphy

leathesiadifformis

Leathesia difformis with barnacles:  photos by Ryan Murphy

Leathesia is a brown kelp. It is found around the Race Rocks region. It is a small brown alga that is usually found in the form of small hollow irregular balls, it is called Sea Cauliflower because it looks like cauliflower due to the invaginations on the suface of the hollow irregular balls.Description: This plant is spherical and solid when young, becoming irregularly convoluted, hollow and broadly expanded at maturity; it is spongy in texture, up to 12 cm. in diameter and yellowish brown in colour.Classification:
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom: Protochtista
Division Phaeaophyta
Class Phaeophyceae
Order Chordariales
Family Chorynoplaeaceae

Genus Leathesia
Species difformis
Common Name: Sea Cauliflower
Habitat: On rocks and epiphytic on other algae in the intertidal.
Pacific Coast Distribution: Bering Sea 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

 

Nereocystis luetkeana– Bull Kelp

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Video Saltwater

Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Protoctista
Phylum: Phaeophyta
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Laminariales
Family: Lessoniaceae
Genus: Nereocystis
Species: luetkeana
Common Name:  Bull kelp
Nereocystis (greek= mermaid’s bladder) has only one species, N. luetkeana.

Plants consist of a long stipe (up to 36 m/118′) attached to the ocean floor by a holdfast composed of numerous haptera (finger-like projections) and terminated above, on the ocean surface, by a single float from which a cluster of tightly branched smooth blades arise. The blades are long (up to 4 m/13′) and narrow (usually less than 20 cm/8″ wide). Overall, this species reminds us of a very large gothic brown onion of extraterrestrial origin. This form, commonly referred to as bull kelp, is attached subtidally but forms surface canopies throughout its distribution from Alaska to central California.

At Race Rocks, all the islands are fringed by this species during the summer months. Several features make this species unique. It grows as an annual although some members persist into a second year. Most plants gets torn off by winter storms, landing on beaches to be decomposed, releasing the nutrients back into the ocean through a saprophytic food web. The following pictures illustrate the tangled masses which end up on beaches near the reserve.

This means that the plant achieves its significant length in one growing season (most growth occurs between March and September). To reach the maximum stipe lengthof 36 m (118′), the plant must grow an average of 17 cm per day over the approximate 210 day period. Nereocystis has a logistic problem in completing its life cycle. The spores are produced on the blades at the ocean surface, often several metres above the ocean floor, but a critical concentration of spores is required near where the parent plant is successfully established to assure re-occupation of this optimal space once the annual plant is lost. So the sorus (spore patch) drops from the blade and delivers its concentrated spores to the bottom before releasing the spores. This is the only kelp to release spore patches.Ronald E. Foreman in pursuit of his PhD discovered that the float, which may have a volume of up to 3 liters, has carbon monoxide, an infamous poison as one of his buoyancy gases. Foreman has studied the commercial cultivation of red seaweeds.Nereocystis on the Beach : Organisms are often involved in modifying the environment. The images in this file were taken in December 2006 after a strong north east wind pounded the lower end of Vancouver Island with the result that many Nereocystis ended up on local beaches near Race Rocks. Videos: The Color of Kelp and

 

 

 

Video: Saltwater: A video set to the music of Holly Arntzen: by Jean Olivier Dalphond (PC yr26)

See other posts on this website about Nereocystis sp.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. original filr by: PC Susanna B. (PC yr 28)

Hedophyllum sessile: sea cabbage–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Hedophyllum sessile : All Photos by Ryan Murphy

Description: This plant is an ovate blade with a short stipe when young, but the stipitate region soon disappears and subsequently the profusely branched root-like holdfast arises from the base of the blade.  The blade becomes markedly furled and often deeply dissected (especially in surf-swept regions).  The plant is 30-150 cm. long and up to 80 cm. wide.  The surface of the blade is densely bullate, except near the base, where it is smooth (in surf-swept regions it may be completely smooth)


Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Protochtista
Division: Phaeophyta
Class: Phaeophyacea
Order: Laminariales
Family: Laminariaceae
Genus: Hedophyllum
Species: sessile
Common Name: stipless kelp, sea cabbage
Habitat:  On rocks in the middle and lower intertidal and upper subtidal zones.
Hedophyllum is a brown algae. It has no stipe (that is the origin of its common name- stipe-less kelp). Its holdfast is usually very developed and the blades vary between bright and dark brown according to site of habitation.

It lives and grows in mid and lower intertidal zones of Race Rocks. Found in both wave exposed and sheltered sites. in the wave exposed areas, the blades are generally smooth and shreaded to thiner blades, while in the protected areas, the blades have wavy surface and they are generally longer. The length of the blades vary between 20 cm and 40 cm.
Pacific Coast Distribution:  Alaska to California.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. , 8/12/02 Oriya Barzel –2002

 

Analipus japonicus: The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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analipus japonicus

Ryan Murphy took these pictures of Analipus japonicus in June of 2002 at Race Rocks.

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Analipus japonicus in hand with Fucus sp. above left

General Characteristics
Analipus japonicus is found in the upper intertidal area frequently on rocks exposed to moderately heavy surf. This brown alga possesses a thallus of light brown color that supports branches up to 35 cm tall. Until recently, the species has been considered to be rare as it was represented by only two or three patches at Race Rocks. It is now becoming more abundant, on both the western shelf near peg 6 and the north-eastern corner near peg 15.

Reproduction Patterns
Development of the brown alga Analipus japonicus exhibits a pronounced seasonal pattern in many regions of the world. In winter and spring, this alga is found only as prostrate crusts; erect axes develop during the summer and fall. Reproduction is chiefly asexual and takes place from July to November. Unilocular sporangiate plants occur very rarely only in June and July. Plants bearing plurilocular sporangia are abundant from July to November.

Pharmaceutical Uses
In a study by various professors at the Sung Kyun Kwan University, there is a report of the results of a screening of 89 seaweeds collected from British Columbia, Canada, and Korea for antiviral activity. Various concentrations of methanol extracts of dried algae were tested against 100 plaque-forming units of herpes simplex virus type 1 and Sindbis virus in Vero cell monolayers. With reference to Analipus japonicus, it was the most potent anti-herpes species, according to the experimental results.

References:
http://www.usfca.edu/fac-staff/chienp/division%20phaeophyta.html

Biologiya Morya, Vladivostok, 2000, vol. 26, no. 6, pp. 426-429

http://www.skku.ac.kr/~ecology/professor/abstract/biological.html accessed 2002.
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Protoctista
Division: Phaeophyta (Brown algae)
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Chordariales
Family: Chordariaceae
Genus: Analipus
Species: japonicus
Common Name: thickly leaved rockweed
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. Paolo Danese 2002 (PC yr 28) 12/9/2002