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| Phytoplankton |
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Description:
Microscopic plants and diatoms that drift on the ocean currents
instead of swimming. These tiny plants, comprised of single
cells, or chains of cells, form the basis for the marine ecosystem. |
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| Food:
Absorbs minerals and carbon dioxide directly from the seawater
and photosynthesizes using sunlight. |
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| Reproduction:
Often by simple cellular division. |
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| Fun
Facts: A single glass of water from Puget Sound
can contain millions of individual phytoplankton! |
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| Zooplankton |
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Description:
These tiny animals are often the larval forms of many of the
marine invertebrates with which we are already familiar, such
as crabs. At top center in a larval crab. Along with the Phytoplankton
they help form the basis for the marine food web and ecosystem. |
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| Food:
These tiny animals eat both the Phytoplankton and each other! |
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| Reproduction:
Often develop through many larval life-stages on the way to
reaching maturity. |
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| Fun
Facts: A single glass of water from Puget Sound
can contain thousands of individual zooplankton! |
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| Eelgrass |
(Zostera
marina) |
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Description:
Eelgrass beds made of long grass like blades and roots in thick
patches can be found growing on sandy or muddy bottoms. Dark
green. Eelgrass beds tend to grow in the spring and the summer,
and retreat in the winter. Blades to 36 inches. |
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| Food:
Photosynthesis (makes own food) from sunlight. |
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| Reproduction:
System of creeping rhizomes and roots or flowers with pollen. |
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| Fun
Facts: Eel Grass is important for several reasons;
1) Stabilizes the bottom sediment, 2) Provides habitat for a
variety of plants and animals, 3) Food for variety of plants
and animals, 4) Enriches water with decaying organic material. |
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| Bull
Kelp |
(Nereocystis
luetkeana) |
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Description:
Long slender rope like stipe ends in a swollen float from which
spread 2 groups of broad, flat blades. Root-like holdfast secure
it to the bottom. Bull Kelp growing season is from spring until
fall, and can grow up to 80 feet or more. Large tangles are
washed ashore by winter storms. |
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| Food:
Absorbs minerals and carbon dioxide directly from the seawater
and photosynthesizes using sunlight. |
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| Reproduction:
Alternate generations. The asexual phase (sporophyte) produces
microscopic spores. From the spore the sexual phase (gametophyte)
develops very small male and female algaes. |
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| Fun
Facts: Forms beautiful subtidal kelp forest that
are important for several reasons: 1) Habitat for many plants
and animal, 2) Provide food for many plants and animals. Coastal
Indians used the hollow bulbs as water vessels, or the long
stipe as rope. The current industrial use of kelp is for alginate
they contain. Alginate is used in ice cream, baked goods, frosting,
dairy products, synthetic rubber, paints, pharmaceutical products
and as food for people and animals. |
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| Laminaria |
(Laminaria
saccharina) |
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Description:
Mature algae has 2 rows of raised or lowered patches running
length of blade. Has root-like holdfast and short stipe. |
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| Food:
Absorbs minerals and carbon dioxide directly from the seawater
and photosynthesizes using sunlight. |
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| Reproduction:
Alternate generations. The asexual phase (sporophyte) produces
microscopic spores. From the spore the sexual phase (gametophyte)
develops very small male and female algaes. |
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| Fun
Facts: Also known as "Sugar Wrack" due
to its sweet taste. It contains mannitol (a form of sugar). |
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Rockweed |
(Fucus
gardneri) |
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Description:
Blade tips are Y shaped and greenish to yellowish brown. Grows
in the upper levels of the intertidal on rocks. |
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| Food:
Absorbs minerals and carbon dioxide directly from the seawater
and photosynthesizes using sunlight. |
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| Reproduction:
The swollen tips are receptacles that produce reproductive gametes. |
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| Fun
Facts: The swollen receptacles have a male organ
and a female organ that release egg and sperm into the water.
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| Scytosiphon |
(Scytosiphon
lomentaria) |
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Description:
Slender sausage-like tubes, or spirals. Light olive to dark
brown. Found on rocky intertidal beaches. Length up to 20 inches. |
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| Food:
Absorbs minerals and carbon dioxide directly from the seawater
and photosynthesizes using sunlight. |
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| Reproduction:
The male and female gamete-producing reproductive organs broadcast
gametes into the water where they fertilize and go through additional
portions of this complex life cycle. This reproductive cycle
is especially interesting because this algae is photosensitive
in its reproduction (ie. sensitive to sunlight). |
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| Fun
Facts: This species is often found where there is
a substantial amount of fresh water seeping down onto the rocks. |
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| Turkish
Towel |
(Chondracanthus
exasperata) |
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Description:
Broad thick blades covered with hundreds of stiff pimple like
bumps. Seaweed is dark purplish red. Grows on subtidal rocks.
Specimens washed up on local beaches usually broken off from
holdfast. Blades up to 3 feet long. |
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| Food:
Absorbs minerals and carbon dioxide directly from the seawater
and photosynthesizes using sunlight. |
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Reproduction:
Triphasic
life cycle. The male and female gamete-producing reproductive
organs broadcast gametes into the water where they fertilize
and go through additional portions of this complex life cycle. |
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| Fun
Facts: Good source of carrageenan a substance used
as a stabilizer in many products ranging from cottage cheese
to printer’s ink to expensive ladies face creams. This
seaweed is a perennial that die back in the winter and grow
again in the spring. |
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| Iridescent
Seaweed |
(Iridea
cordata) |
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Description:
Broad, slippery, rubbery blades with a bluish iridescence in
water. |
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| Food:
Absorbs minerals and carbon dioxide directly from the seawater
and photosynthesizes using sunlight. |
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| Reproduction:
Triphasic life cycle. The male and female gamete-producing reproductive
organs broadcast gametes into the water where they fertilize
and go through additional portions of this complex life cycle. |
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| Fun
Facts: Good source of carrageenan a substance used
as a stabilizer in many products ranging from cottage cheese
to printer’s ink to expensive ladies face creams. This
seaweed is a perennial that die back in the winter and grow
again in the spring. |
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| Sea
Lettuce |
(Ulva
fenestrata) |
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Description:
Thin bright green transparent sheets or tube like strings that
are attached to the bottom, on pilings, or floating in the water.
Blade length to 6 inches. |
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| Food:
Absorbs minerals and carbon dioxide directly from the seawater
and photosynthesizes using sunlight. |
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| Reproduction:
Alternate generations. The asexual phase (sporophyte) produces
microscopic spores. From the spore the sexual phase (gametophyte)
develops very small male and female algaes. Some cells may also
be able to slough off in stressful situations and form new algae. |
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| Fun
Facts: This seaweed is only two cells thick. |
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| Epiphytic
Algae (Kornmannia) |
(Monostroma
kornmannia) |
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Description:
Resembles Sea Lettuce in manner of growth but only 1 cell thick.
Grows on the blades of Eelgrass. |
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| Food:
Absorbs minerals and carbon dioxide directly from the seawater
and photosynthesizes using sunlight. |
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| Reproduction:
Alternate generations. The asexual phase (sporophyte) produces
microscopic spores. From the spore the sexual phase (gametophyte)
develops very small male and female algaes. Some cells may also
be able to slough off in stressful situations and form new algae. |
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| Fun
Facts: Only 1 cell thick! |
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Copyright
© 2008-2010 City of Edmonds, Washington - All Rights Reserved |
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