- You are here: Home
- » Rocky Intertidal Monitoring
- » Species Monitored
- » Algae
- » Species Monitored
- » Rocky Intertidal Monitoring
Species
Algae
Identifying algae is not always easy! Learn more about the algae monitored by the LiMPETS program. The list below includes:
- 16 core taxa that are monitored at as many sites as possible
- 3 other taxa (denoted with *) that are monitored at only one or two sites
Go to Datasheets and Forms to find out which species are monitored at your LiMPETS site of interest.
- Dead man’s fingers – Codium fragile
- Encrusting coralline algae – Many species
- Feather boa kelp – Egregia menziesii
- Flattened rockweeds – Fucus spp./Hesperophycus californicus
- Green pin-cushion alga – Cladophora columbiana
- Iridescent algae – Mazzaella flaccida/splendens
- Lawn alga – Chondracanthus canaliculatus
- Nori – Porphyra spp.
- Scouring-pad alga – Endocladia muricata
- Sea lettuces – Ulva spp.
- Sea sacs – Halosaccion glandiforme
- Slender rockweeds – Pelvetiopsis limitata/Silvetia compressa
- Stunted turkish towel – Mastocarpus spp./Mazzaella affinis
- Surfgrasses – Phyllospadix scouleri/torreyi
- Tar spot algae – Mastocarpus spp./Ralfsia spp. and others
- Upright coralline algae – Bossiella spp./Calliarthon spp./Corallina spp.
- * Christmas card algae – Microcladia spp./Plocamium spp.
- * Frilly red algae – Cryptopleura spp.
- * Vermicelli alga – Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis
- We also monitor:
- Bare rock
- Loose sand
- Tar (petroleum)
Dead Man’s Fingers (Codium fragile)
- Description:
- Dead man’s fingers is a dark green to blackish-green alga. It can reach 10-40 cm in length. The body consists of dichotomously forked, spongy, cylindrical branches that are attached to a broad basal disk.
- Distribution:
- Alaska to Baja California.
- Habitat:
- Common in rocky areas in the mid to low intertidal, and subtidal zones of open coastal areas.
- Diet:
- Sunlight and dissolved nutrients, which are required for photosynthesis.
- Fun Fact:
- Codium has been a nuisance for the New England shellfish industry since a subspecies from Japan invaded the New England Coast around 1957. Besides fouling nets, it may attach to shells, and can cause shellfish to become buoyant and float away. So far this invasive subspecies has not been found on the open coast of California, but we want to be alert to its possible appearance.
- Reason for Monitoring:
- This species is easy to identify and has several subspecies that are potentially invasive; increases at LiMPETS sites could indicate invasion on to the open coast.
- References:
- Encyclopedia of the Sanctuary
- Global Invasive Species Database
- Mondragon, J and J. Mondragon. 2003. Seaweeds of the Pacific Coast: Common Marine Algae from Alaska to Baja California. Sea Challengers, Monterey,California.