lawrence island field guide

LawrenceIsland

ChandlerOpachinskiOctober9,2015CoastalEcology

Dr.HeatherSchrum

Euthoracristata,LacyRedWeedGrowsinafanshapewithmanysmallbranches.Colorvariesbetweenarosypinktoareddishbrown.Verysmall,onlygrowingtoasizeof2in.(Gosner,1999)Location:MegansettHarbor

Photocredit:ChandlerOpachinski

Fucusvesiculosus,RockweedBladesareusuallybroadandflatwithastrongmidrib.Thebladesdividedichotomouslyintomoreorlessequal,Y-shapedforks.Theseaweedhaspaired,pea-shapedairbladdersplacedatintervalswithintheblade.Whenpressureisapplied,theairbladderspop.(Gosner,1999)Location:MegansettHarbor

Photocredit:CollinBatchelor

Spartinaalterniflora,SmoothCordgrassCordgrassisatall,smoothgrass.Itgrowsinthreedifferentsizesdependingonitslocationinthesaltmarsh.Itgrowstallestnearthewater,intermediateheightnearthemidmarsh,andshortestnearthehighmarshmeadowgrass.Thisgrasswasfoundpastthehightidelineandwasontheshorterside.Cangrowto7ft.(Massie,1998)


Ahnfeltiaplicata,WireWeedIntangleslikesteelwool,wiryandstiff,withrandombranching.Darkredtobrownincoloring.To8in.Branchesarelessthan1.6mmthick.(Gosner,1999)Location:MegansettHarbor


Codiumfragile,GreeneFleeceCoarselybushy,oftenbranchinginregularY-shapedforks;branchesarethick,upto¾in.Rope-likeorspongy.Darkgreenincolor.Growsto3ft.(Gosner,1999)Location:MegansettHarbor

Photocredit:Groupdrive

Spartinapatens,SaltMeadowCordgrassLeavesarelinearandverynarrowwithmarginsrolledinward.Clustersofflowersto8in.long.Growsto3ft.(Nolin,2005)Location:MegansettHarbor


Artemisiastelleriana,BeachWormwoodPlanthaspalegreenleavescoveredinathickwhitecoatofhair.Commonlyfoundintheupperpartsofdunes,itisasolitaryplantnormallyfoundbyitself.OriginallyfromJapanithasbeenintroducedtotheeastcoastandspreadsbetweenQuebecandVirginia.Grows1-3ft.(TWCStaff,2007)Location:MegansettHarbor


Ivaimbricata,DuneMarsh-elderFoundalongthebottomofthedunes.Succulentgreenleaves.Stemsarebrownwiththinnergreenbranches.Small,green,roundbudslinetheoutersmallerbranches.Growsto3feet.(Dune,2008)Location:MegansettHarbor


Chordariaflagelliformis,BlackWhipWeedDarkbrowntoblackincolor.Onemainbranch;fewtononesecondaryortertiarybranches.Growto2ft.(Gosner,1999)Location:MegansettHarbor

PhotoCredit:ChandlerOpachinski

Ammophilabreviligulata,AmericanBeachgrassAleafy,spreading,rhizomatousbunchgrasswithmanystemsperclump.Stemsandleavesvaryfromlighttomediumgreen.Theseedheadisaspike-likepanicle,abouttenincheslong,andappearsinlatesummer.Growsto2-3ft.(Miller,2006)


Anchoamitchilli,GlassMinnow(BayAnchovy)Transparentincolorwithasinglesilverstriperunningdownthesideofthefish.Jawisverysmallandlocatedmuchfartherbackthanthetoppartofthemouth.Travelinlargeschoolsalongthecoast,goingasfarinasthetideline.Growsto1-3in.(Bait)

Photocredit:Ramon(Spanishbiologistguide)(Ramon,2014)

Moronesaxatilis,StripedBassStripedbasshavelargemouths,theirjawsextendingbackwardtobelowtheeye.Thebottomjawextendspasttheupperjaw.Dorsalfinsarespiny.Topofbodyandheadisbluishtodarkolive,whileitssidesandbelly

aresilvertowhite.Seventoeightnarrowstripesextendfromtheheadtothebaseofthetail.Itisoftenseenbreakingatthesurfacetofeed,flashingthesilverbellyandstripes.Juvenilesarefoundinintertidalzonesandcalmwaters.Recordlengthis72in.(Species)Location:MegansettHarbor(juvenilesseeninSqueteagueHarboraswell

Photocredit:


Photocredit:

Nassariusobsoletus,MudDogWhelkAdull,dark,weaklysculptureddogwhelk,usuallywitherodedapex.Aperturebrown-blackwithglazedinnerlip;columellawithafold.Growsto1in.(Gosner,1999)Location:MegansettHarbor

Photocredit:JaimeConroy

Argopectenirradians,BayScallopAsmall,coarselyribbedscallop.Itisfoundinweedyshallowsbetweenthelowtidelineand50ft.Marginalwingsnearlyequalinsize.Thecolorisextremelyvariable.Growsto3in.(Gosner,1999)Location:MegansettHarbor


Busyconcarica(knobbedwhelk),KnobbedWhelkEggCaseAcoiledcordwithattachedcapsules.Eachcapsulecomestogetherflatattheedges.Lei-likeinappearance.Lighttanincolor.(Gosner,1999)Location:MegansettHarbor


Crepidulafornicata,CommonSlipperShellShellhasaplatformextendingabouthalfwayacrosstheopening.Theedgeissinuous.Apexisturnedtooneside.Foundinlowerintertidalzones.Extremelyabundantalongtheisland.Growsto1½in.(Gosner,1999).Location:MegansettHarbor



Myaarenaria,SoftShellClamShellsareelongatedandverythin.Thehingeisasymmetrical,leftsidewithatongue-likechondrophore,rightwithaheartshapedpit.Chalkywhiteincolorwithdullbrownish/yellowishperiostracum.Foundinbaysandsounds,intertidaltosubtidalzones,typicallyonamuddybottom.Growsto3-4in.(Gosner,1999)Location:MegansettHarbor


Anadaratransversa,TransverseArkShellisthickandheavy,almostrectangularinshape.Theligamentisverybroad.Shelliswhiteandtheperiostracumisvelvetyblack.Transversearkshaveweakerbeaks,ligaments,andhinges.Growsto1½in.(Gosner,1999)Location:MegansettHarbor


Littorinalittorea,CommonPeriwinkle(smooth)Roundinshapewithalowspire,flatwhorls,andshallowsutures.Colorisquitevariable.Foundinintertidalzonesattachedtoanysolidsubstrate.Growto½in.(Gosner,1999)Location:MegansettHarbor


Busyconcanaliculatum,ChanneledWhelkAlargewhelkwithchanneledsutures.Adultwhelkshavelongsquare-shoulderedwhorls,ashortspire,andalonganteriorcanal.Pinktoyellowincolorwithayellowishaperture.(Gosner,1999)Location:MegansettHarbor


Anadaraovalis,BloodArkArounded,rectangularshapedshell.Theshellisthickandheavywithabroadligament.TheligamentandbeakarerelativelyweakincomparisontothePonderousArk.Shelliswhitewithavelvetyblackperiostracum.Growsto2in.(Gosner,1999)Location:SqueteagueHarbor


Carcinusmaenas,GreenCrabShellisbroaderthanlongwith5marginaland3frontalteeth.Lastpairoflegsflattenedbutnotpaddle-shaped.Maleandjuvenileschieflygreenishaboveandyellowbelow,adultfemalesredorangebelow.Growsto3in.(Gosner,1999)Location:SqueteagueHarbor


Anomiasimplex,JingleShellValvesdissimilar.Uppervalvevariableinshapeandcolor;oftenirregular,thin,translucent,andglossy.Lowervalveflat,fragile,withalargehole.Colorsanbe:white,silvery,yellow,orange,brownish,orstainedblack.Growsto3in.(Gosner,1999)Location:SqueteagueHarbor



Mercenariamercenaria,QuahogShellsthickandstrong,broadlyoval,withbeaksshiftedforward.Outsidedullandwhitish(oftenstained);insidewhitewithapurplestaintowardstherear.Youngclamshavesharplyraisedconcentricridges,olderclamsarerelativelysmooth.Growsto4in.(Gosner,1999)Location:SqueteagueHarbor


Limuluspolyphemus,AtlanticHorseshoeCrabTheshapeofahorseshoewithatailextendingout.Fourpairsoflegs;firstlegslargest,decreasinginsizetowardstheback.Hasalongtailspike.Femalesreach2ft;malesslightlysmaller.(Gosner,1999)



Modiolusdemissus,RibbedMusselAsaltmarshmusselwithsubterminalbeaksandroughradialribs.Outsidesilverincolor,insideglossedwithmotherofpearl.Periostracumgreenishoryellowishbrown.Growsto2in.(Gosner,1999)Location:SqueteagueHarbor

Photocredit:

Ucapugilator,SandFiddlerCrabShellsaresquareandtapertotheback.Nomarginalnotch.Spacebetweeneyesmuchshorterthaneyestalks.Maleshaveoneverylargeclaw;femaleshaveclawsofequalsize(small).Innerpalmofmajorclawsmooth.Growsto1in.(Gosner,1999)Location:SqueteagueHarbor


Terrapenecarolinacarolina,EasternBoxTurtle

− Theseturtleshaveahigh,dome-shapedcarapaceandahingedplastron.Shellandbodyaredarkbrownwithbrightorangeoryellowpatterns.Maleshaveredeyesandfemaleshaveyellowishbrowneyes.Afemaleisshownhere.Canbefoundinforestsormeadowswherethereismoisture.Growto8in.(Moran,2004)Location:SqueteagueHarbor



Palaemonetesvulgaris,CommonshoreshrimpSmallshrimpwithdistinctclawson1stand2ndpairsoflegs;2ndpairlongestandstrongest.2teethoncrestofcarapacebehindbaseofeyestalks.Moveablefingerofsecondclawhastwosmallteethatbase.Lighttotransparentwithdarkstreaks.Growsto2in.(Gosner,1999)Location:SqueteagueHarbor



Crassostreavirginica,CommonOysterExtremelyvariableinshape.Shellsmassive,rough,andunequal.Lowervalvecementedtoanyhardobjectavailable;uppervalvesmallerandflatter.Ontheinsidethereisasinglevioletmusclescar.Growsto10in.(Gosner,1999)Location:SqueteagueHarbor


Rosarugosa,BeachRoseAfloweringplantthatgrowsinlargeshrubgroupings,oftenformingthickhedges.Branchstemsaredenseandcoarse.Stemsandbranchesaredenselycoveredinthinsharpthorns.Stemsarelightgreenwhilecompoundleavesareashinydarkgreen.Flowerbudsareredbulbs.Flowersarepinkwithfivepetals.Growsto6ft.(Massie,1998)Location:SqueteagueHarbor


Sphaerotrichiadivaricata,SlipperyTangleWeedAslender,bushyweedfinelybranchedwithultimatebranchlets(wide-angled);texturesoftandslimy.Branchesareverysmall.Darkgreentobrownincolor.Growsto20in.(Gosner,1999)Location:SqueteagueHarbor


Suaedamaritima,herbaceousseepweedShrubwithfleshy,succulentgreenleavesandgreenflowers.Stemsareyellowish-green.Growsto3ft.(Dum)Location:SqueteagueHarbor


Salicorniaeuropaea,CommonGlasswortGlasswortisasmooth,fleshy,salt-tolerantplant.Stemsaresucculentandjointed.Stemsareplump.Rangesincolorfrombrightgreentodarkred.Leavesarescale-likeformationsalongthesegmentsofthestem.Grows4-20in.(Massie,1998)



Ivaannua,RoughMarshElderTheflowerheadhastubulardiskflowersinthecenter,andstrap-shapedrayflowersaroundtheperiphery.Flowerbudsarespherical.Leavesaresimpleandlobed.Edgeofleaveshaveteeth.Greenincolorwithabrownishgreenstem.(Society)Location:SqueteagueHarbor


Suaedacalceoliformis,AmericanSea-bliteTallwithsmall,linearleaves,andlow,spreadingstemswithmoreerectfloweringtips.Tiny(2mm)five-partedflowersarearrangedin5-10cmascendingspikes.Eachspikeissubtendedbyaleaf-likebract.Growsto1ft.(Sorrie,2015)


Solidagosempervirens,SeasideGoldenrodLightgreenstemwithmediumtodarkgreenleaves.Leavesaresomewhatsucculent,oblong,andlance-shaped.Leavesatthebasearelargest,decreasinginsizetowardsthetopoftheplant.Flowerheadsaredense,clusteredspikesofbrightyellowflowers.Growsto6ft.(TWCStaff,2013)Location:SqueteagueHarbor


Limoniumcarolinianum,SeaLavenderStemsarethin,lightgreen,withleavesgrowingonlyatthebaseoftheplant.Leavesareverysimple,noteeth.Flowersaresmallwithfivepetals.Theflowersarefusedintosmalltubes.Flowercolorrangesfrombluetopurple,withtheoccasionalwhite.Sizevariesdependentongrowingconditions.(Britt)Location:SqueteagueHarbor


Ulvalactuca,SeaLettuceThallusisatranslucentbrightgreensheet,oftenlobedorruffledatedges.Initiallyattachedbyashortmarginalstalkbutlaterdriftsfreely.Averycommonshallowwaterseaweedfoundinplacesrangingfromexposedrockstoquiet,semistagnant,brackishpools.Growsto3ft.(Gosner,1999)Location:SqueteagueHarbor


Blidingiaminima,HollowGreenWeedConsistsoffine,branchedorunbranched,hollowgreentubes.Groupsoftubesarisefromtheraisedcentreofasmallflatteneddisc-shapedholdfast.Identifiedmainlybyitssmaller,moredelicateandsometimesbranchingtubes.(Avant,2008)Location:SqueteagueHarbor


DifferencesintheecologyofLawrenceIsland

LawrenceIslandisasmallislandlocatedonthesouthsideofCapeCodinBourne,

MA.ItactsasabarrierislandtoSqueteagueHarbor.Thesouthsideoftheislandborders

MegansettHarbor.ItisalargerbayandthissideofLawrenceislandisfoundtobeasandy

beach.ThenorthsideoftheislandbordersSqueteagueHarbor.Thisharborisextremely

shelteredandsmallercomparedtoMegansett.TheSqueteaguesideofLawrenceisland

appearstobeasaltmarsh.Bothsidesoftheislandaredifferentincomparisontoeach

other.

TheMegansettsideofLawrenceIslandisasandybeachenvironment.Thereare

sediments,smallrocks,andsandgrainsthatmakeupthebeachandthedeclineintothe

oceanisgradual.AnimalspeciesfoundontheMegansettsideinclude:thechanneledwhelk,

thecommonperiwinkle,themuddogwhelk,thecommonslippershell,afewspeciesof

fish,andafewspeciesofshellfish.Typicallyinasedimentarycoastalenvironment,animals

foundaremobilewithburrowingcharacteristics.Gastropodsmovealongthebottomzone

lookingforsolidstructurestoattachto,allthewhilestirringupsediments.Theshellfishin

Megansettbayareseeded;theywereoncenaturallyoccurringbuttomakeupforthe

shellfishindustry,moreshellfishareputintotheharbor.Theseshellfishburrowdowninto

thesediments,occasionallymovingaroundandfeedingwhichstirsupandaeratesthe

sediments.SmallbaitfishandstripedbassarepresentbecauseMegansettconnectsrightto

theoceananditisacalmenvironmentforfishtofeedandbreed.Plantsfoundonthe

Megansettsideareabletosurviveinpoorsoilqualitybecauseitismainlysediments,not

nutrientrichsoils.Seaweedsfoundonthissidearefromdeeperdepthsandgrowinareas

withslightlymoredisturbancelikewaves,boattraffic,andcurrents.

TheSqueteaguesideofLawrenceIslandisasaltmarsh.Saltmarshesareextremely

tidal,andthebottomoftheharborhasaverynutrientrichmud.Someplantspeciesfound

onSqueteagueare:herbaceousseepweed,commonglasswort,Americansea-blite,sea

lavender,seasidegoldenrod,andbeachrose.Seepweed,glasswort,andsea-bliteare

speciesfoundinthecactifamily.Theyareverysalttolerantandknownfortheirsucculent

leavesandstems.Glasswortforexample,isastemsplitintojuicysections.Theyareedible

andwhenyoubiteintothem,theyarejuicyandextremelysalty.Abithigheruponthe

marsh,speciessuchassealavenderandseasidegoldenrodarefound.Theseareslightly

lesssalttolerantandabletosurviveinareaswithlessnutrients.Thefartherupthedunes,

thelessnutrientrichthemudisanditevenchangestosediments.Afewseaweedsare

foundalongtheshoreaswell.Theseseaweedsgrowinverycalmintertidalzones.

SqueteagueHarborisprotectedbyLawrenceIsland,creatingacalmenvironment.

AnimalsfoundontheSqueteaguesidearespeciesthatprefercalmwatersandcan

withstandthechangingtidesandsaltconcentration.Smallshoreshrimpsandjuvenilefish

preferthecalmwatersanditisanicehabitattogrowin.Manyclamsburrowinthemud

suchasoystersandQuahogs.Animalsthatburrowinthemudwerealsofoundonthisside.

Sandfiddlercrabholeswereeverywhere,andmanygreencrabsroamedthetidelineand

hidbeneathrocks.Horseshoecrabsburythemselvesinthemudunderwater.AnEastern

BoxTurtlewasburrowedinthemudaswell.Theseturtlespreferareaswithalotof

moisture.Theyarethreatenedsoitwasararefind.

Somesimilaritiesbetweenthetwosideswouldbetheabundanceofshellfishand

fish.Differentshellspecieswereonaspecificsideoftheisland,butoccasionallythere

wouldbeashellfromtheMegansettsideontheSqueteagueside,andviseversa.Small

baitfishcanbefoundonbothsidesneartheshorelinebecausethewaterisrelativelycalm.

Squeteagueharborisagoodbreedinggroundforfishandagoodareaforjuvenilestogrow.

ItisnotsurprisingtheywerespottedonbothsidesoftheislandbecauseMegansettharbor

connectstotheoceanandiswherethejuvenilesgowhentheyareoldenoughtosurvive.

MegansettharborsideismuchmoreexposedthanSqueteagueharbor,causingthere

tobemoresediments,lessnutrients,anddifferentspeciesalltogether.Watertemperatures

differ,environmentsdiffer,salinitydiffers,andspeciesdiffer.Thoughtheislandisvery

smallandlocatedalongthesamewater,thesidestouchingdifferentharborsarevery

differentfromoneanother.

References

Avant, P. (2008). Blidingia minima. A green seaweed. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Retrieved from http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=2777.

Britt, W. Limonium carolinianum: Carolina sea-lavender. (n.d.) Retrieved from

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/limonium/carolinianum/. Dum, L. Suaeda maritima. (n.d.) Retrieved from

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Suaeda+maritima. Dune Marsh-elder (Iva imbricata). (2008). North Carolina: Carolina Nature. Retrieved from

http://www.carolinanature.com/trees/ivim.html Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Species Profile – Striped Bass. (n.d.)

Retrieved from https://www.wctc.edu/current-students/library/apa-citing.pdf. Gosner, K.L. (1999). A Field Guide to the Atlantic Seashore: From the Bay of Fundy to Cape

Hatteras. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Massie, F. (1998). The Uncommon Guide to Common Life of Narragansett Bay. Rhode

Island: Save the Bay, Incorporated. Retrieved from http://www.edc.uri.edu Miller, C. (2006, May 3). American Beachgrass. New Jersey: United States Department of

Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_ambr.pdf.

Moran, M (2004). Eastern Box Turtle: Terrapene carolina. Retrieved from

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/eastern_box_turtle.htm New England Wild Flower Society. Iva annua: rough marsh-elder. (n.d.) Retrieved from

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/iva/annua/. Nolin, M (2005, June). Life in New Hampshire Salt Marshes: A Quick-Reference Field Guide.

New Hampshire: New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Coastal Program. Retrieved from http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/publications/wd/documents/wd-04-19.pdf

Ramon. (2014, September 29). TB Blog: Year Round Snorkeling Opportunities. Retrieved

from http://blog.tranquilobay.com/categories/snorkeling/ Sorrie, B. (2015). American Sea-blite: Suaeda calceoliformis. Massachusetts: Massachusetts

Division of Fisheries & Wildlife. Retrieved from http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dfg/nhesp/species-and-

conservation/nhfacts/suaeda-calceoliformis.pdf. TWC Staff (2007, January 1). Artemisia stelleriana Besser. Retrieved from

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ARST6 TWC Staff (2013, September 12). Solidago sempervirens. Retrieved from

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SOSE. Walker, Cpt. C. Bait Profiles: Glass Minnow. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.fishing-

boating.com/baitprofiles/glasminn.htm.

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