Download Bi212CoastalFieldTripW14

ROGUE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BI 212 COASTAL FIELD TRIP
Crescent City, CA



Saturday Mar 8th 2014
Important Phone Numbers:
Kevin’s cell phone: 541 – 292-2083
Battery Point Lighthouse: (707) 464-3089
Crescent City Harbor 101 Citizens Dock Road, Crescent City, CA: (707) 464-6174
To Crescent City from Riverside RCC:
1: Go on I-5 north and exit at Grants Pass.~ 25 miles
2: Keep going SOUTH on REDWOOD HWY/US-199 ~70 miles
3: Merge onto US-101 South/REDWOOD HWY ~5.6 miles
To Battery Point Lighthouse: 11:00 am -12:30 pm
Go west (turn Right) on Front Street until it ends at A Street.
Turn right onto A Street and follow it to the 3rd and turn left to the end. Park on the street.
To Crescent City Harbor 1:30-2:30 pm
Follow 101S Past Ocean World. Turn Right on Citizens Dock Road and park at the end!
Total Est. Driving Time: 2 hrs 15 minutes Total Est. Distance: 111 miles
Please see attached Crescent City map above…
Recommended FIELD GUIDES: (optional of course!)
***The Beachcomber’s Guide to Seashore Life in the Pacific Northwest
by Sept. J. Duane (covers OR, WA, BC)
*Pacific Intertidal Life* by Ron Russo and Pam Olhausen. 1981. Nature Study Guild.
The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashore Creatures.
Alfred A. Knopf, New York
Please come prepared for the weather and to get your feet wet!!! The rocks are wet
and very slippery, therefore please where shoes with some sort of TREAD. Chaco type
sandals or scuba diving booties are recommended, although gym shoes will suffice just
fine. Please, no flip flops while walking around the rocks! We will be outside all day,
rain or shine, so dress accordingly (no whining!).
PART ONE: INTERTIDAL EXPLORATION
adapted from “Rocky Intertidal Transect Survey” By Anne Maben, AP Science Coach, Los Angeles County Office of
Education ;
“OCG 561 Intertidal Lab” by Candace Oviatt, Graduate School of Ocenography, University of Rhode Island
Melissa Nystrom, Rogue Community College



Our study site is the beach at the end of West 3rd street and Wendell in Crescent City, CA
If you remove an organism, please place it back where you found it!
We will meet at the top of the stairs at 11:00 am. This is important, as our activities depend
on the tides (and the tides will not wait for us!). Low tide = 11:30 am
CAUTION: Please be aware of "rogue" waves that could pull you into the ocean when
sampling the low tide zone. Never sample with your back to the waves nor sample
alone!
You should treat animals carefully if temporarily removing them for counting or
observation. Always replace animals where they were found, with their habitat intact.
Respect your surrounding environment and the creatures therein!
INTRODUCTION:
The rocky intertidal community, present in the area between high and low tide,
provides an excellent ecosystem in which to observe community ecology. Ecologists
have been aware of vertical zonation in intertidal habitats since the early 1800's, and
noticed that organisms found between the high and low tide marks seemed to vary in a
consistent way. For example, periwinkles might be found in the upper splash zone,
gooseneck barnacles and mussels in the middle intertidal, and sea hares and octopus
in the lowest levels. The number, abundance, and distribution of species within this
community are determined by both biotic (living) and abiotic (physical) factors. Biotic
factors, such as space (colonization), inter- and intraspecific competition and predation
often set the lower limit for an individual organism’s distribution. Conversely, abiotic
factors such as wave action, substrate, and tidal height greatly affect the upper limit of
distribution, by causing a range of desiccation, temperature, and salinity extremes.
Most species are successful competitors only within rather narrow ranges of
physical and biological conditions. As a result, their distribution is restricted to those
areas in which such conditions exist. In the intertidal region, the restricted distribution of
many plant and animal species occurs in definite zones arranged in vertical sequence.
Each zone is characterized by particular groups of plants and animals that give that zone a
unique appearance.
ACTIVITY :
1. Begin by simply exploring the habitat. Identify as many organisms as possible.
Make a list of all of the organisms that you see (including Phylums, and
Genus/species, and common names).. For each one, make OBSERVATIONS
(meaning, write notes, draw pictures, etc). If you are unable to identify any of the
organisms, make sure that you make good enough observations to be able to
identify them later! Make observations and be as complete as possible: collect as
much information as you can relating to such factors as food preferences, feeding
behavior, and associations with other plants and animals, which may be helpful in
understanding the role of the plant or animal in the intertidal community.
2. Discuss the environmental parameters of the habitat (e.g. temperature, salinity,
desiccation/tidal changes, wave forces and direction) and how these may differ from
other habitats (i.e. subtidal zones). Do these intertidal organisms face challenges
compared to those of other habitats?
3. Survey another location of the habitat (perhaps further out (but be careful!)) with
different hydrodynamic conditions. Pick a handful of target species: do you notice
differences with each location?
4. Think about the different lifestyles of the organisms: modes of locomotion, feeding,
reproduction and how the organisms protect themselves in the environment. For each
organism you have observed above, comment on these lifestyles.
Use the chart on the next page to help you organize your thoughts. You may include
within this chart: numbers of each species seen, names, descriptions, etc. Your written
submission must be reorganized and NEATLY presented and include all of the above
parameters!
DATA COLLECTION SHEET - ROCKY INTERTIDAL SURVEY Activity 1
Dominant intertidal species found
Name of Species
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
#
organisms
Description of Organism(s)
INTRODUCTION:
The submerged portions of docks, buoys, and other human-made structures provide
extensive habitat for a community of typically benthic marine algae and animals.
Commonly referred to as fouling communities, these nuisance assemblages of
organisms superficially resemble rocky intertidal communities. Most fouling community
members are attached to solid substrate or seek hiding places among the larger sessile
forms.
Regardless of the similarity between fouling communities and rocky intertidal habitats,
there are some important differences that are reflected in the community structure.
Floats and docks are located in bays and protected areas with little exposure to the
effects of large waves. More important, these floating habitats move up and down with
the tides. Thus, there is no intertidal zone, so the inhabitants do not experience the
problems caused by periodic exposure to the atmosphere. Suspended food and
dissolved oxygen are continuously available. Salinity and temperature variations are
also moderated.
The habitat occupied by fouling communities is a highly desirable one. Unless a float
has been scraped recently, it harbors crowded assemblages of small algae, mussels,
barnacles, sea squirts, a variety of worms and crustaceans, and even several
nudibranchs. (One year we even saw a tunicate!).
* Be careful to leave the habitat as undisturbed as possible. Do not unnecessarily
remove organisms (particularly sessile animals.) Re-submerge the substrate/animals
as soon as you are finished looking at them. Many of the organisms (such as sponges)
will not survive if exposed to air for too long.
* Expect surprises. Given the diversity of organisms that typically inhabit floating docks,
one can't expect to be able to identify everything. Check local field guides to aid in
identifications and to provide additional information about the natural history of the
organisms you discover.
ACTIVITY & QUESTIONS
1. Begin by simply exploring the habitat. Pick a good spot and identify as many
organisms as possible. Make a list of all of the organisms that you see (including
Phylums, and Genus/species, and common names). For each one, make
OBSERVATIONS (meaning, write notes, draw pictures, etc). This should be a great
place to really observe some of the behaviors of barnacles, tubeworms, mussels, etc. If
you are unable to identify any of the organisms, make sure that you make good enough
observations to be able to identify them later!
2. Discuss the environmental parameters of the habitat (e.g. temperature, salinity,
desiccation/tidal changes, wave forces and direction) and how these may differ from
other habitats (i.e. rocky intertidal zones, coastal wetlands). Do these fouling organisms
face challenges compared to those of other habitats?
3. Survey another location of the dock (be it another dock, or another side) with
different hydrodynamic conditions. Pick a handful of target species: do you notice
differences with each location?
4. Think about the different lifestyles of the float inhabitants: modes of locomotion,
feeding, reproduction and how the organisms protect themselves in the environment.
For each organism you have observed above, comment on these lifestyles.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5. Are there any patterns of organism distribution on the substrate? Are certain
animals clustered at certain levels (depths) along the floats? What evidence is there of
animal interactions within the habitat, such as space competition or commensalism?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6. In the winter most of the algae growing on the tires dies or is reduced to holdfasts.
How would the loss of this group or other species affect the distribution and relative
abundance of other members of the float community?
______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
PART TWO: Subtidal Ecosystems
FLOATING DOCKS & FOULING COMMUNITY STUDIES
Portions of this lab adapted from “laboratory and Field Investigations in Marine Life, 8th ed.” By Sumich and Dudley, Jones
and Bartlett Publishers/ Melissa Nystrom, Rogue Community College




We will meet at Crescent City Harbor at Citizen’s Dock Road around to the new
docks to the right at 1:30 pm.
Please come prepared for the weather and to (perhaps) get your feet wet. We
will be outside on our ventral surfaces (stomachs) looking at a floating dock
community~ dress accordingly!
If you remove an organism, please place it back where you found it.
What to bring: field guides, notebook paper to write on, clipboard, binoculars,
warm clothes, change of clothes.
INTRODUCTION:
The submerged portions of docks, buoys, and other human-made structures provide extensive
habitat for a community of typically benthic marine plants and animals. Commonly referred to
as fouling communities, these nuisance assemblages of organisms superficially resemble rocky
intertidal communities. Most fouling community members are attached to solid substrate or
seek hiding places among the larger sessile forms.
Regardless of the similarity between fouling communities and rocky intertidal habitats, there are
some important differences that are reflected in the community structure. Floats and docks are
located in bays and protected areas with little exposure to the effects of large waves. More
important, these floating habitats move up and down with the tides. Thus, there is no intertidal
zone, so the inhabitants do not experience the problems caused by periodic exposure to the
atmosphere. Suspended food and dissolved oxygen are continuously available. Salinity and
temperature variations are also moderated.
The habitat occupied by fouling communities is a highly desirable one. Unless a float has been
scraped recently, it harbors crowded assemblages of small algae, mussels, barnacles, sea
squirts, a variety of worms and crustaceans, and even several nudibranchs.
* Be careful to leave the habitat as undisturbed as possible. Do not unnecessarily remove organisms
(particularly sessile animals.) Re-submerge the substrate/animals as soon as you are finished looking at
them. Many of the organisms (such as sponges) will not survive if exposed to air for too long.
* Expect surprises. Given the diversity of organisms that typically inhabit floating docks,
one can't expect to be able to identify everything. Check local field guides to aid in
identifications and to provide additional information about the natural history of the
organisms you discover.
ACTIVITY & QUESTIONS & NOTES
1. Begin by simply exploring the habitat…. Pick a good spot and identify as many
organisms as possible. Make a list of all of the organisms that you see (including
Phylums, and Genus/species, as well as common names). For each one, make
OBSERVATIONS (meaning: write notes, sketch pictures, etc). This should be a great
place to really observe some of the behaviors of barnacles, tubeworms, mussels, etc. If
you are unable to identify any of the organisms, make sure that you make good enough
observations to be able to identify them later.
2. Discuss the environmental parameters of the habitat (e.g. temperature, salinity,
desiccation/tidal changes, wave forces and direction) and how these may differ from
other habitats (i.e. rocky intertidal zones, coastal wetlands). Do these fouling organisms
face challenges compared to those of other habitats? What’s different about their
habitat?
3. Survey another location of the dock (be it another dock, or another side) with different
hydrodynamic conditions. Pick a handful of target species - do you notice differences
with each location?
4. Think about the different lifestyles of the float inhabitants: modes of locomotion,
feeding style, reproduction and how the organisms protect themselves in the
environment. For each organism you have observed above, comment on these
lifestyles.
5. Are there any patterns of organism distribution on the substrate? Are certain
animals clustered at certain levels (depths) along the floats? What evidence is there of
animal interactions within the habitat, such as space competition or commensalism?
6. In the winter most of the algae growing on the tires dies or is reduced to holdfasts. How
would the loss of this group or other species affect the distribution and relative
abundance of other members of the float community?
Use the chart on the following page to help you organize your thoughts.
You may include within this chart numbers of each species seen, names,
descriptions, etc.
DATA COLLECTION SHEET – FLOATING DOCK COMMUNITY
Dominant species found
Name of Species
#
organisms
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Add additional notes on other side
Description of Organism(s)
Fouling Community additional notes and sketches:
Follow-Up Questions:
Pick a favorite organism that you saw today and do a little extra reading/research.
Give some background to the organism, its ecosystem, and its life history
Did you see this organism in both the Intertidal (Battery Point) and Sub-tidal (Floating Docks)?
How did they, or would they differ in each habitat?
Submission of Assignment:
Due Date: Wed March 12th
Please TYPE your answers to the previous questions. You may hand-write
observations as long as they are on separate sheets of paper from this one and
NEATLY written and presented. Please be as clear and concise as possible.
Requirements for extra credit
Part 1: You must type up a paper that compares and contrasts the two communities
in terms of:
1.
2.
Abiotic conditions: temperature fluctuations, exposure to desiccation, oxygen
depletion, waves and currents, etc.
Biotic competition, predation and exposure, lifestyle, food availability, etc.
Can you explain the differences in the biotic communities in each habitat?
Part 2: Pick a favorite organism that you saw today and do a little extra reading/research.
Give some background to the organism, its ecosystem, and its life history.
Did you see this organism in both the Intertidal (Battery Point) and Sub-tidal (Floating Docks)? How
did they, or would they differ in each habitat?
Part 3: Reference citations, and field notes / sketches should be attached.