The Beachcomber's Guide to Seashore Life in the Pacific Northwest

by Sept, J. Duane

• ISBN13: 9781550172041
• ISBN10: 1550172042
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-01-01
• Publisher: Harbour

Summary

What's that purple stuff you and the kids always see at the edge of the water when you go to the beach? Is it okay to touch those gooey little creatures you always find in tidepools? And where's the best place along the coast to see bat stars? This book can tell you. The 274 most common animals and plants to be seen along the saltwater shores of the Pacific Northwest are described here-the ones that stay put and that cover great distances; the ones that hide and that love a party; the ones that look like rocks or feathers or blobs of jelly. Illustrating each entry is a full-colour photo of the species in its natural habitat, so that even the novice can identify it confidently - without disturbing it. There are special sections on great Pacific Northwest viewing sites for intertidal life, ways to understand tides and choose the best times to look for beach wildlife, intertidal habitats ranging from sandy beaches to aging wharves to rocky, wave-swept shores, and ecologically friendly observation methods. Packed with expert information but wonderfully accessible to any interested layperson, this book is perfect for a family or a school group, a Saturday beachwalker or a naturalists' club. The species described here include sponges, clams, snails, crabs, sea stars, sea anemones, jellies, fishes, seaweeds and others. This informative guide was written to be both accurate and easy to understand. Details for each plant or animal include; description, habitat, range, additional notes and more. Many intertidal sites found in the Pacific Northwest are also featured in this guide. Additional information found here include tidal actions, intertidal habitats, and environmentally friendly beachcombing.

Author Biography

Duane Sept's passion for wildlife has brought him to study his subjects and to work throughout western Canada as a biologist, writer, professional photographer and environmental consultant. His photographs and writings have been published in numerous periodicals, including BBC Wildlife, Canadian Wildlife, Nature Canada and Outdoor Canada. He lives with his wife and two children on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Animals

Sponges Hydroids

Jellies

Sea Anemones

Comb Jellies Marine Worms (Flatworms, Ribbon Worms, Segmented Worms, Peanut Worms)

Mollusks & Brachiopods (Chiltons, Gastropods, Nudibranches and Allies, Bivalves, Octopods and Squids, Lampshells)

Arthropods (Barnacles, Crabs, Shrimps)

Moss Animals (Bryozoans)

Spiny-Skinned Animals (Sea Stars, Brittle Stars, Sea Urchins and Sand Dollars, Sea Cucumbers)

Sea Squirts (Tunicates)

Fishes

Plant Life

Seaweeds (Green Algae, Brown Algae and Red Algae)

Flowering Plants (Eel-grass and Surf-grass)

Seashore Lichens

Best Beachcombing Sites In The Pacific Northwest

Further Reading

Acknowledgements

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

FISHES

Black Prickleback (Xiphister atropurpureus)

Other Name: Epigeichthys atropurpureus
Description: colour varies from reddish brown to black. Elongated body has 4 lateral lines. Conspicuous light band is present at base of tail fin.
Size: to 12"(30 cm)long.
Habitat: under rocks on exposed shore-lines, low intertidal zone.
Range: Kodiak Island, Alaska to northern Baja California.
Notes: The black prickleback feeds on an assortment of algae in addition to a few species of small invertebrates. This species breeds in late winter and spring. The egg mass is typically laid under a rock or similar object, then guarded by the male for about 3 weeks before the eggs hatch. This fish is most often found beneath a rock in little if any water. These damp conditions help keep the fish and other organisms from drying out, so if you turn over any rocks, please replace them carefully.

HYDROIDS, JELLIES, SEA ANEMONES, COMB JELLIES

Water Jelly (Aequorea sp.)

Other names: Many-ribbed Hydromedusa; Many-ribbed Jellyfish; Water Jellyfish; Aequorea aequorea; Aequorea victoria.
Description: Transparent bell-shaped jelly with 100 or more rib-like radial canals and trailing tentacles.
Size: To 3" (8cm) in diameter.
Habitat: In open water and close to shore.
Range: Alaska to California.
Notes: Various species of water-jellies are found world-wide. Their luminescence is easily observed at night as soft, circular balls of pulsing light. This species is known to eat other species of jellies and on occasion to cannibalize its own species.

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Excerpted from The Beachcomber's Guide to Seashore Life in the Pacific Northwest by J. Duane Sept
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.