INTRODUCTION TO SEDIMENTS

Slide Show

Sampling an exposed sediment at low tide

Surface of an exposed sediment with evidence of bioturbation

Eel Grass Zostera marina

Eel grass requires bright light and clear water. Excess algal growth is killing it off.

Abarenicola pacifica

A head-down deposit- feeding polychaete, A. pacifica maintains a U-shaped burrow, whose bottom may be 20-25 cm below the sediment surface. It feeds upon sediment, and passes rope-like fecal strands to the sediment surface. This mixes deep and shallow sediments.

Polychaete worm (Nereis vexillosa)

Clam Worm (Nereis virens)

Burrowing Shrimp(Callianassa californiensis)

Mantis Shrimp (Hadrosquilla perpasta)

Southern Rock Lobster (Jasus novaehollandiae)

Pacific Mole Crab (Emerita analoga)

Horseshoe "Crabs" (Limulus polyphemus)

Macoma Clam in its burrow

Rock Sole

Softshell Clam (Mya arenaria)

Mussel Mytulis edulis

Sand Crab (Uvalipes)