Marine EcologyMarine Ecologyofof

Sub Tidal CaliforniaSub Tidal California

Ecology: The inter-relationship between organisms and their

environment

Introduction: ImagesIntroduction: Images White Shark (Charcarodon carcharius) California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) California Hydrocoral (Stylaster californicus)

Habitat: Open OceanHabitat: Open Ocean

Primary producers: Phytoplankton Top predators: Sharks; Pinnipeds;

Tuna; Toothed Whales Some large animals eat plankton No place to hide

Open Ocean: ImagesOpen Ocean: Images Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) Pacific White-Sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus

obliquidens) Grey Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) Mola Mola (Mola mola) Purple Jellyfish (Pelagia noctiluca)

Habitat: Sandy PlainsHabitat: Sandy Plains

Primary producers: Phytoplankton Protection

– Camouflage– Burying

Common job: Detritus Consumer Flat Fish, Tube Anemones, Worms, Sea

Stars, Clams, Snails, Sea Pens, Octopus

Sandy Plains: ImagesSandy Plains: Images Speckled Sand Dab (Citharichthys stigmaeus) Thornback Ray (Platythinoidis triseriata) Spotted Cusk-Eel (Chilara taylori) Bat Ray (Myliobatis californica) Sand Dollar (Dendraster excentricus) Sea Pen (stylatula elongata) Worm evidence Clam syphon Tube Anemone (Pachycerianthus fimbriatus)

Habitat: Kelp ForestHabitat: Kelp Forest

Kelp requires a rocky substrate Giant Kelp and Bull Kelp Kelp rarely deeper than 130’ Camouflage, Protection, Food Holdfast, Stipe, Blades, Pnuematocysts Requires water movement

Ode to a Kelp ForestOde to a Kelp ForestWhere waves crash and currents roar, Where rocky bottoms meet the shore,Where water’s cold and nutrient rich,Where organism’s find that special niche,There you’ll find that algal formcalled Kelp - from which the forest’s born.

The Kelp Forest: not just a place for plants,But a community, a vital dancein the web of life.A player in a seamless whole,that touches the mind and touches the soul.

© Neil Robertson, 2010

Kelp Forest: ImagesKelp Forest: Images Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) Articulated Coralline Algae Kelp Bass (Paralabrax clathratus) Kelp Lace Bryozoan (Membranipora membrancea)

Habitat: Rocky ReefsHabitat: Rocky Reefs

Cracks & crevices Substrate for Kelp Primary producer: Kelp Detritus Feeders and Grazers Carnivores

Rocky Reefs: ImagesRocky Reefs: Images California Hydrocoral (Stylaster californicus) Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) Cabezon’s Eye (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) Giant Sunflower Star (Picnopodia helianthoides) Brown Rock Crab (Cancer antennarius) Strawberry Anemones (Corynactis californica) Abalone (Haliotis rufescens)

Phyla of Kingdom AnimaliaPhyla of Kingdom Animalia

Porifera Cnidaria Ctenophora Entoprocta

Mollusca Annelida Arthropoda Echinodermata Chordata

Phylum: PoriferaPhylum: Porifera Sponges: around 5,000 living species Simplest multi-cellular organisms Cellular-level organization

– Their cells are specialized– Similar cells are not organized into tissues

All sessile and benthic Filter feeders

Porifera: ImagesPorifera: Images Orange Puffball (Tethya aurantia) Cobalt Encrusting Sponges (Hymenamphiastra

cyanocrypta) Red Volcano Sponge (Acarnus erithacus) Aggregated Nipple Sponge (Polymastia pacifica)

Phylum: CnidariaPhylum: Cnidaria Radially or Biradially symmetric Tissue level of organization True organs do not occur Two basic body forms:

– Medusa: free swimming or floating– Polyp: usually sessile

Nematocysts

Phylum: CnidariaPhylum: Cnidaria Corals Hydroids Sea anemones Jellyfish Sea pens

Cnidaria: ImagesCnidaria: Images Orange Cup Coral (Balanophyllia elegans) Cobalt Sponge (Hymenamphiastra cyanocrypta) California Hydrocoral (Stylaster californicus) Strawberry Anemones (Corynactis californica) Metridium Anemones (Metridium giganteum) Blue Rockfish (Sebastes mystinus) Fish Eating Urticina (Urticina piscivora) Giant Green Anemone (Anthopleura

xanthogrammica) White-Spotted Rose Anemone (Urticina lofotensis) Purple Jellyfish (Pelagia noctiluca)

Phylum: EchinodermataPhylum: Echinodermata

Calcereous endoskeleton Pentaradial symmetry Water vascular system (tube feet)

– Decentralized nervous system

Phylum: EchinodermataPhylum: Echinodermata

Sea stars Brittle stars Sea urchins Sand dollars Sea cucumbers

Echinodermata: ImagesEchinodermata: Images

Giant Spined Star (Pisaster giganteus) Leather Star (Dermasterias imbricata) Bat Star (Asterina miniata) Giant Sunflower Star (Pycnopodia

helianthoides) California Sea Cucumber (Parastichopus

californicus) Warty Sea Cucumber (Parastichopus

parvimensis) Orange Sea Cucumber (Cucumaria miniata)

Phylum: ArthropodaPhylum: Arthropoda

Bilaterally symetrical Strongly segmented bodies Exoskeletal construction Molting required for growth More species of Arthropod than all

other species combined

Phylum: ArthropodaPhylum: Arthropoda Barnacles Shrimp Crabs Lobster Isopods Amphipods Copepods

Arthropoda: ImagesArthropoda: Images Coonstripe Shrimp(Pandalus hypsinotus) Moss Crab (Loxorhynchus crispatus) Hermit Crab (Pagurus armatus) Cryptic Kelp Crab (Pugettia richii) Red Rock Crab (Cancer productus) Giant Acorn Barnacle (Balanus nubilus)

Phylum: MolluscaPhylum: Mollusca

Bilaterally symmetrical Strongly cephalized Complicated digestive system Complicated nervous system Most have a shell Over 50,000 living species

Phylum: MolluscaPhylum: Mollusca

Abalone Nudibranchs Octopi Squid Scallops Sea hare

Mussels Oysters Clams Periwinkles Chitons Snails Limpets

Mollusca: ImagesMollusca: Images

Red Abalone (Haliotis rufescens) Lewis’ Moon Snail (Polinices lewisii) Purple Ringed Top Snail (Calliostoma annulatum) Whitecap Limpet (Acmaea mitra) Sea Hare (Aplysia californica) Spanish Shawl (Flabellinopsis iodinea) Sea Lemon (Anisodoris nobilis) Rock Scallop (Crassedoma giganteum) Clam Syphon Lined Chiton (Tonicella lineata) Red Octopus (Octopus rubescens) Humboldt Squid (Dosidicus gigas) Market Squid Eggs (Loligo opalescens)

Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates)Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates)

Organisms that possess a Notochord– a rod that serves to stiffen the body and act

as a support during locomotion Bilateral symmetry Segmented body Ventral heart and closed blood system Bony or cartilaginous endoskeleton

Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates)Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates) Tunicates Salps Sharks Rays Skates Bony fish

Sea lions Seals Whales Sea otters Dolphins Birds

Chordata: ImagesChordata: Images California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) Pacific Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina) Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) Great Egret (Ardea alba) Lightbulb Tunicate (Clavelina huntsmani) Blue Rockfish (Sebastes mystinus) Rubberlip Seaperch (Rhacochilus toxotes) Blackeye Goby (Coryphopterus nicholsi) Snubnose Sculpin (Orthonopias triacis) Female Kelp Greenling (Hexagrammos decagrammus) Copper Rockfish (Sebastes caurinus) Vermillion Rockfish (Sebastes miniatus) Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) Feather Duster Worm (Eudistylia polymorpha)