An ambition for the year is to record lots of stuff on the seashore along the Gower coast in Wales. Posted some lichens as "Starting at the Top" in this plant forum and have now moved on to some of the algae - the seaweeds, starting with some of the browns known as the Wracks.
Usually seen as slippery masses as here -
Looking at them more closely, starting high up the shore - here's the Channelled Wrack (Pelvetia canaliculata) -
This one spends the majority of its time out of water and can tolerate a lot of drying. The Channelled Wrack name comes clear if you turn it over - the frond is folded into a channel that can hold water and help them stay moist for longer. Taken at the same time as the above it looks much damper -
Found a bit lower down the shore, and unable to stand quite so much dessication, is the Flat Wrack, Fucus spiralis (sometimes called the spiral wrack because its fronds often twist) -
This next one tolerates even less drying, so is found further down the shore. It's the Bladder Wrack, Fucus vesiculosus -
The bladders help it float in the water up into the light when the tide is in.
A bit lower, and able to take even less drying out, is another of the Fucoids, the Serrated Wrack (or Saw Wrack), Fucus serratus, with its serrated edge -
Next trip will need the wellies.... and a tripod to help catch some of the little creatures that live under and within the weeds.
First 3 shots, 50D + EF24-105L, last 3 shots 50D + EF100mm Macro.
Cheers, Chris.
Usually seen as slippery masses as here -
Looking at them more closely, starting high up the shore - here's the Channelled Wrack (Pelvetia canaliculata) -
This one spends the majority of its time out of water and can tolerate a lot of drying. The Channelled Wrack name comes clear if you turn it over - the frond is folded into a channel that can hold water and help them stay moist for longer. Taken at the same time as the above it looks much damper -
Found a bit lower down the shore, and unable to stand quite so much dessication, is the Flat Wrack, Fucus spiralis (sometimes called the spiral wrack because its fronds often twist) -
This next one tolerates even less drying, so is found further down the shore. It's the Bladder Wrack, Fucus vesiculosus -
The bladders help it float in the water up into the light when the tide is in.
A bit lower, and able to take even less drying out, is another of the Fucoids, the Serrated Wrack (or Saw Wrack), Fucus serratus, with its serrated edge -
Next trip will need the wellies.... and a tripod to help catch some of the little creatures that live under and within the weeds.
First 3 shots, 50D + EF24-105L, last 3 shots 50D + EF100mm Macro.
Cheers, Chris.
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