| |
 |
 |
| |
Underwater
Habitats of the MBNMS
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Underwater
Habitats: Encompassing more than 5,300 square miles, the Monterey
Bay National Marine Sanctuary is one of the richest, most diverse marine
environments in the world encompassing wave-swept beaches, lush kelp forests,
and one of the deepest underwater canyons in North America. These habitats
abound with life, from tiny plankton to playful sea otters, to the largest
animal that has ever live on earth -- the blue whale. Here is a brief
look at some of the more common and accessible habitats you may see underwater.
|
 Kelp
Forests
Kelp is what makes diving in the Sanctuary and along the California
coast so special. The familiar giant kelp is one of nearly 20 varieties
of kelp found in the Sanctuary. In ideal conditions this remarkable
plant can grow up to 18 inches per day, and in stark contrast to
the colorful and slow-growing corals, the giant kelp canopies tower
above the ocean floor. Kelp is the backbone of Monterey Bay coastal
ecology. Like the trees in a forest these giant algae provide food
and shelter for the many organisms dependent on these plants. Also
like a terrestrial forest, kelp forests experience seasonal changes.
Storms and large weather events, like the El Nino, can tear and
dislodgethe kelp, leaving a tattered winter forest to begin its
growth again each spring.
On the rocks where the holdfasts secure kelp fronds to the bottom
live many invertebrates including abalone, sea urchins and sea stars.
Among the kelp blades live a variety of fish - particularly juveniles.
You will most likely see rockfish and senoritas amongst the blades,
and if you look closely you might catch a glimpse of cleverly camouflaged
turban snails, kelp crabs and kelpfish, a unique creature that can
change its color to suit its environment. The canopies host a number
of sea birds and are considered "home" to the sea otter. It is there,
often wrapped in kelp that the otter lounge, play and groom themselves.
|
|
Rocky
Shores and Reefs
Much of the spectacular diversity can be found nestled amongst
the rock where the Sanctuary meets the shore. From the intertidal
zone to the sea floor, an abundance of sea stars, anemones and kelp
can be found. These rocky habitats are both beautiful and fragile.
The subtidal reefs host a myriad of sponges, anemones and corals,
whose presence converts the dark rock to fields of vibrant color.
Holes left by burrowing clams, piddocks and constant weathering
become shelter for the many reef animals including agile octopi,
sedentary sea cucumbers, and colorful nudibranchs. Many species
of fish can be seen around rocky outcroppings.
|
|
|
Sandy
Beaches
The sandy beach and sea floor comprise the most extensive habitats
in the Sanctuary. At first glance the sand seems barren and unproductive.
After a while, if you are careful not to kick up sand, you might
see tiny benthic communities of tube-building worms come alive as
they sweep the passing nutrient rich waters with tentacles to capture
food. Sand dabs and stingrays sail along the silty bottoms feeding
or lie in wait on the sandy floor, blending in perfectly. If you
are really lucky you may encounter a cluster of living sand dollars,
half buried in the sand. You are almost certain to see an occasional
bat star or decorator crab making its way across the sandy floor,
scavenging for any debris it might find
|
|
|
Eelgrass
Beds
Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is the only flowering plant
that is able to grow underwater. Like land-bound grasses eelgrass
roots itself into the substrate and produces seeds. It thrives in
protected coastal waters with sandy or muddy bottoms. This fast
growing plant plays a crucial role in the coastal ecosystem by providing
food and shelter to a variety of animals, including juvenile fish
and crabs.
Because
eelgrass is a relatively stable feature in a world of swirling water
and sediments, eelgrass becomes the center of a small community:
shrimps and worms burrow in the root-bound sand, pipefishes hang
out around the waving blades, and various fishes attached their
eggs to the blades. Many juvenile fish and invertebrates find protection,
food, and cover among the grass blades.
|
|
|
Piers
and Wharves
Diving near piers and wharves offers an interesting opportunity
to see how animals such as anemonies, sea stars, barnacles, mussels,
and algae colonize man-made debris. Also, you can plan cleanup dives
near piers and wharves. Divers must be careful to avoid injuries
while diving near these structures because commercial vessels and
people fishing from the piers may not know divers are in the area.
It is always important to obtain permission from the local harbormaster
before diving near a pier or wharf.
|
|
Open
Waters
The vast pelagic realm contains marine life ranging in size from
microscopic plankton to huge blue whales. Depending on the time of
year, these spectacular open waters treat divers to sights of swirling
anchovies, swarms of gelatinous salps, and maybe even glimpses of
elusive whales or cruising sharks. Creatures of the open waters are
superbly adapted to their fluid, edgeless world. Pelagic animals are
designed to deal with prolems of bouyancy and avoidance of predators
in a wide open environment. If you're lucky, you may be able to see
seasonal visitors such as swimming snails, pelagic jellies, or the
strange looking mola mola, as they travel in on waters from the California
Current. Go back a few days later, and the variety of animals you
see could be completely different. |
|
For
more in-depth information on the marine organisms found in the Monterey
Bay National Marine Sanctuary, please visit our site
characterization.
|
|
