Kelp at the green buoy

Second year marine science students went on a spontaneous field trip on the afternoon of 1 October 2012.  We travelled to the green buoy in Pedder Bay where there is a tiny patch of bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana). We pulled one of the kelps on to our boat and found a few very interesting organisms living amongst the blades.

Kelp crab (Pugettia producta) on bull kelp blades.  This is an ovigerous (egg-bearing) female with a lot of algae & some barnacles on her carapace.

Notice her ‘cutting’ claws used to tear pieces of kelp.

A small decorator crab.

A northern clingfish (Gobiesox maeandricus).

And this very unusual looking bull kelp individual!  Perhaps it is getting ready for halloween…

Tags: Gobiesox maeandricus, kelp forest, Nereocystis luetkeana, Pedder Bay, Pugettia producta, year 38