The Sea Grasses

1
The Sea Grasses

• Algae and life forms typical of the reefs
  surrounding Bermuda.

2
Grasses

• Typical to the waters of Bermuda are the Turtle
  grass and the Manatee grass.
• Bright green in color, they resemble blades of
  grass from the shore.

3
Sargassum Seaweed

• This is a brown algae, phaeophyta.
• Gas filled floats keep the plant which grows to
  be quite large, afloat.
• Tend to form thick dense floating masses on the
  surface of the water.

4
Chlorophyta Mermaids Wine Glasses

• This algae is found in both white seen at the top
  and green which is on the bottom.
• Typically have saucer shaped caps on long thin
  stalks.
• Found in shallow protected areas of reef

5
Green Grape Algae

• Bears clusters of grape like spheres.
• Various shades of green, all the way through a
  bluish tint.
• Found mostly in intertidal to rocky areas of
  shallow to moderately deep reefs.

6
White Scroll

• Another of the phaeophyta or brown algae.
• Leafy, rounded blads, similar to the Petticoat
  alga which can also be found around the island.
• Found mostly in shallow reef flats.

7
Poriferans

• Sponges have the following types based on
  structure
• .vase (barrel) shape
• .tube shape
• .ball shape
• .encrusting
• rope sponge

8
Fire sponge
Found in lagoon areas, in turtle grassbeds.
Contact with bare skin will cause a burn or rash
that will last several days. Avoid contact. Rinse
with meat tenderizer, treat with hydrocortizone
cream.
9
Red Boring Sponge

• This is an encrusting sponge that bores into the
  surface of the coral head.
• Secretes an acid that allows it to attach.Causes
  tunneling within the coral skeleton.

10
Early chordates.

• Purple sea squirt is an early chordate.
• As a tadpole it has a notochord, gill slits, and
  eyespots.
• As an adult, it loses all of these to become a
  jelly like blob.

11
Coelenterates.

• This jellyfish contracts its umbrella to propel
  itself through the water.
• Tentacles are at the bottom of the animal..shown
  here upward.

12
Portuguese Man of War

• Found floating on top of the water, its tentacles
  extend several feet in radius.
• If found on beach, it is still capable of giving
  a nasty sting.

13
Upside Down Jellyfish

• A relative of this one is found growing in the
  mangroves at Walsingham pond. Tentacles protrude
  upward from the bottom where it rests. Will cause
  a very painful sting.

14
Sea Cucumbers

• There are several varieties to be seen around
  Bermuda.
• This particular species, the Sea Pudding is very
  common.