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Rocky Shore at Stanley Park
In 2009, the Marine Biology Section of Nature Vancouver published a pamphlet that contains a field guide to 40 prominent intertidal species of marine life which inhabit the rocky shore in StanleyPark, Vancouver, BC. The pamphlet is printed on waterproof and durable paper and is available at Nature Vancouver evening programs. Click on Nature Vancouver Rocky Intertidal Pamphlet to see a PDF copy.
WHERE
The rocky point jutting into Burrard Inlet directly north of the SS EMPRESS of JAPAN figurehead, between Lumberman’s Arch, Children’s Playground, and Girl in Wetsuit statue.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Visit at low tide, especially during spring tides when fascinating marine life can be seen. Arrive an hour earlier than the predicted low tide to allow ample time to explore. Wear snug, non-slip footwear; sun or wind protective clothing. Bring a hand lens. Follow the tide down the shore to its lowest point then work your way back up. Keep ahead of the incoming water. Watch for large or rogue waves.
Tide tables are available in local newspapers or online at www.waterlevels.gc.ca. Reference source for StanleyPark is Vancouver (Station #7735) in Pacific Region, Zone 10.
TIDES AND THE INTERTIDAL ZONE
The intertidal zone lies between land and sea. It is the area between the tidemarks, exposed when the tide has receded (low tide) and covered when the tide advances (high tide). The tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun: in BC the rhythmic rise and fall of the tide occurs twice a day, every day. Each month, there are two spring tides (20% greater than average) and two neap tides (20% less than average). The most extreme spring and neap tides of the year occur between May and August and between November and January. Intertidal life is greatly influenced by the tidal cycle.
LIVING IN A HARSH ENVIRONMENT
Life in the intertidal zone is not simple. At low tide marine life lacks seawater, along with the oxygen and food found in seawater. It dries out, is exposed to heat or cold, bright sun or shade, moisture from fog, rain or snow AND - terrestrial predators! Freshwater streams flowing into the intertidal zone lower the seawater salinity (make it less salty). When the tide comes in, life is refreshed but pounding waves can create chaos.
Intertidal substrata vary from rocks, to sand, to mud, or a combination of these sediments. Each marine organism must choose the right substratum on which to live, compete with many other species for space, avoid getting swept away by the tide or current, and constantly be on guard against becoming prey to bigger marine organisms.
ZONING OUT
Intertidal organisms organize themselves into horizontal bands (subzones), according to which habitat best enables them to survive. Well-defined subzones are easily seen at some locales, not so easily at others. The subzones and species living there vary from season to season, shore to shore and sometimes even rock to rock. StanleyPark is no exception. Marine life inhabiting the subzones near the SS Empres of Japan figurehead is primarily that of a sheltered coast. Some exposed-coast species are present.
- Upper Subzone - near the high water transition level.
- Middle Subzone - the true intertidal habitat.
- Lower Subzone - near the low water transition level.
- Subtidal Zone is permanently submerged.
BEACH MANNERS, PLEASE!
Treat the habitat with respect. As explorers, we are visitors to organisms living in their intertidal home and it is our responsibility to ensure their conservation into the future. Take only photographs, they are for life. Please remove your litter!
TREAD LIGHTLY, DON’T RUN!
- Some organisms are small and move slowly. The less you move, the more you will see. Observe organisms from bare rocks or sandy patches.
- Soft and hard-bodied organisms are easily crushed. Learn to identify camouflaged organisms so that you don’t accidentally walk on them.
- Intertidal animals clamp on to hard surfaces, holding onto life until the tide returns. Be gentle when you observe them. Prying them off will damage their muscles, cause them to dry out and leave them defenseless.
- Barnacles look dead but they’re not. Don’t purposely crush or scrape them off the rocks. Be aware of their jagged edges.
- Seaweeds have reproductive parts, too! Be careful where you step.
- Seaweeds and seaweed-covered rocks are extremely slippery.
PUT THEM BACK!
- If you turn over a rock to see what lives beneath, carefully return the rock to its original spot. To avoid crushing unsuspecting or immobile animals living in the cavity or attached to the surface, use stones or empty shells to prop up the heavy, re-positioned rock.
- Organisms will not survive if moved from one subzone to another, or if removed from seawater to take home with you.
- Return abandoned animals to the water or cover with seaweed to keep them moist and protected from predators.
- The marine ecosystem wisely recycles dead organisms.
DON’T EAT THEM!
CAUTION! All of the Lower Mainland is closed to the harvest of bivalve shellfish (two valves or shells) such as clams, oysters, scallops, mussels and cockles. Shellfish closures are due to presence of marine biotoxins such as Red Tide (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)) and sanitary contamination. PSP neurotoxins can cause death! Call DFO at 604-666-2828 end_of_the_skype_highlighting for more info.
- Be a thoughtful naturalist and become informed.
- Learn to care for nature’s gifts that other people scorn.
- Be a thinking person who observes and enjoys,
- Not one who acts carelessly or knowingly destroys,
- And practice good beach manners so that clever folk may say:“You’re conserving for the future. Now enjoy a wonderful day."
Species List
The following list represents prominent macrofauna and macroalgae identified between 2007 and 2010 from the rocky intertidal point jutting into Burrard Inlet directly north of the SS EMPRESS of JAPAN figurehead.
INVERTEBRATES
A. Porifera - Sponges
*Bowerbank’s crumb of bread sponge, Halichondria bowerbankia
B. Cnidaria – Sea anenomes, Corals, Hydroids, Hydrocorals, Jellies and Others
*Giant plumose anemone, Metridium farcimen
C. Annelida - Polychaetes or bristleworms
Banner sea-nymph, Nereis vexillosa
*Glyceridae, possibly Glycera nana
*Goddess-worm, Nepthys punctata
*Red-trumpet calcareous tubeworm, Serpula columbiana
Vancouver feather-duster, Eudistylia vancouveri
D. Nemerteans – Ribbon worms
Mud nemertean, Paranemertes peregrina
E. Molluscs
Barnacle-eating nudibranch, Onchidoris bilamellata
**lemon nudibranch likely noble sea lemon, Peltodoris nobilis
**Leopard dorid, Diaulula sandiegensis
**Opalescent nudibranch, Hermissenda crassicornis
Checkered periwinkle, Littorina scutulata
Fat gaper, Tresus capax
*Frosted nudibranch, Dirona albolineata
*Giant Pacific chiton, Cryptochiton stelleri
Mask limpet, Tectura persona
Mossy chiton, Mopalia muscosa
**Blue-line chiton, Tonicella undocaerulea
Nuttall’s cockle, Clinocardium nuttallii
Pacific blue mussel, Mytilus trossulus
Pacific littleneck clam, Protothaca staminea
Ribbed limpet, Lottia digitalis
*Shield limpet, Lottia pelta
Washington butter clam, Saxidomus gigantea
*Wrinkled dogwinkle, Nucella lamellosa
F. Arthropoda – Shrimps, Crabs, Hermits, Barnacles, Sea Fleas, Sea Spiders and Others
*Black-clawed crab, Lophopanopeus bellus
Common acorn barnacle, Balanus glandula
*Dungeness crab, Cancer magister (and **juveniles)
Green shore crab, Hemigrapsus oregonensis
Red rock crab, Cancer productus
**Hairy hermit crab, Pagurus hirsutiusculus
Rockweed isopod, Idotea wosnesenskii
Thatched acorn barnacle, Semibalanus cariosus
Square-tooth sea flea, Amphithoe valida
G. Echinoderms – Sea Stars, Brittle Stars, Feather Stars, Sea Urchins and Sea Cucumbers
*Blood star, Henricia leviuscula leviuscula
Leather star, Dermasterias imbricata
Mottled star, Evasterias troschelii
Purple star or ochre star, Pisaster ochraceus
Red sea cucumber, Cucumaria miniata
**Giant sea cucumber, Parastichopus californicus
**Burrowing sea cucumber, Leptosynapta clarki
*Sunflower star, Pycnopodia helianthoides
*Green sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis
H. Bryozoa - or Moss Animals
Kelp-encrusting bryozoans, Membranipora serrilamella
MARINE ALGAE OR SEAWEEDS
A. Chorophyta – Green Algae
*Flat-tube sea lettuce, Ulva linza
Sea lettuce, Ulva lactuca
Sea moss, Cladophora spp.
B. Ochrophyta – Brown Algae
Broad-winged kelp, Alaria marginata
Bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana
Rockweed, Fucus gardneri
*Seersucker kelp, Costaria costata
Sugar wrack kelp, Saccharina latissima
Wireweed, Sargassum muticum
C. Rhodophyta – Red Algae
Filamentous red seaweed, Pterosiphonia bipinnata
*Hairy Pottery seaweed, Ceramium pacificum
Iridescent seaweed, Mazzaella splendens
*Nori, Porphyra spp.
*Red eyelet silk, Sparlingia pertusa
Turkish towel, Chondracanthus exasperatus
(+/- Oval Turkish towel, Chondracanthus corymbiferus)
Turkish washcloth, Mastocarpus papillatus
MARINE LICHEN
*Black crustose marine lichen, Verrucaria maura
BIRDS
*Canada goose, Branta canadensis
*Double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus
Glaucous-winged Gull, Larus glaucescens
Great blue heron, Ardea herodias
Northwestern Crow, Corvus caurinus
FISHES
*Gunnels, Pholis spp.
High cockscomb, Anoplarchus purpurescens
*Pricklebacks, Xiphister and Phytichthys spp.
Summary of macrospecies’ diversity = 70+:
45 species of invertebrates
16 species of algae or seaweeds
1 species of marine lichen
5 species of birds
3 species of fishes
*species identified by Sheila Byers (or associates), not included in rocky intertidal pamphlet due to space restrictions.
**additional species collected and identified by Vancouver Aquarium Intertidal Marine Biology staff and volunteers on a night beach walk, January 15, 2010.