Graceful green hair • Cladophora sericea
Specimen collection number SCL 15360 in the UBC Herbarium Algae Database. Search the collection number in the database for more information on these specimens, or search the species for further occurrences. Images courtesy of Sandra Lindstrom.
Identification
Cladophora is a genus comprised of eight green seaweed species that are found in the northeast Pacific Ocean. In order to identify most species with certainty, microscopic examination is required. Cladophora sericea is very common, and, along with other members of this genus, is characterized by its delicately and extensively branched, green to light/yellowish-green filaments. This species forms large mats or loose clumps (large mats typically occur in more undisturbed areas). Filaments are between 5 and 20 cm long, with branching occurring at the distal (opposite the base) end of the filament.
Similar Species
Aside from some similar members of the Cladophora genus, this species is also similar to Ulva prolifera and Acrosiphonia arcta. Like C. sericea, U. prolifera is bright-green to yellow-green, and forms extensive mats. However, the strands that comprise these extensive mats are tubular in U. prolifera, and filamentous in C. sericea. Acrosiphonia arcta grows in a more rope-like fashion due to the presence of hooks at the ends of the filaments. These hooked ends are visible with a hand lens or magnifying glass and are absent in C. sericea.
Habitat and Range
In protected areas, this species typically forms extensive mats on a variety of substrates (bedrock, cobble, mud) in the mid to low intertidal. In more exposed areas, it occupies rocky tidepools in the high intertidal. Its range extends from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska to San Diego, California and includes Korea and Japan.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/182822-Cladophora-sericea
Cladophora is a genus comprised of eight green seaweed species that are found in the northeast Pacific Ocean. In order to identify most species with certainty, microscopic examination is required. Cladophora sericea is very common, and, along with other members of this genus, is characterized by its delicately and extensively branched, green to light/yellowish-green filaments. This species forms large mats or loose clumps (large mats typically occur in more undisturbed areas). Filaments are between 5 and 20 cm long, with branching occurring at the distal (opposite the base) end of the filament.
Similar Species
Aside from some similar members of the Cladophora genus, this species is also similar to Ulva prolifera and Acrosiphonia arcta. Like C. sericea, U. prolifera is bright-green to yellow-green, and forms extensive mats. However, the strands that comprise these extensive mats are tubular in U. prolifera, and filamentous in C. sericea. Acrosiphonia arcta grows in a more rope-like fashion due to the presence of hooks at the ends of the filaments. These hooked ends are visible with a hand lens or magnifying glass and are absent in C. sericea.
Habitat and Range
In protected areas, this species typically forms extensive mats on a variety of substrates (bedrock, cobble, mud) in the mid to low intertidal. In more exposed areas, it occupies rocky tidepools in the high intertidal. Its range extends from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska to San Diego, California and includes Korea and Japan.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/182822-Cladophora-sericea
References
Druehl, L. 2000. Pacific Seaweeds: A guide to common seaweeds of the west coast. Harbour Publishing: Madeira Park, BC, Canada. Pp. 50-51
Lamb, A., and Hanby, B. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest [electronic version]. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing.
Lindberg, M. and Lindstrom, S. (2010). Cladophora sericea. Seaweeds of Alaska. Accessed 2015-11-13
O'Clair, R. and Lindstrom, S. Cladophora sericea (Hudson) Kuetzing. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 2015-11-12
Authors and editors of page
Beatrice Proudfoot and Kelly Fretwell (2015).
Druehl, L. 2000. Pacific Seaweeds: A guide to common seaweeds of the west coast. Harbour Publishing: Madeira Park, BC, Canada. Pp. 50-51
Lamb, A., and Hanby, B. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest [electronic version]. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing.
Lindberg, M. and Lindstrom, S. (2010). Cladophora sericea. Seaweeds of Alaska. Accessed 2015-11-13
O'Clair, R. and Lindstrom, S. Cladophora sericea (Hudson) Kuetzing. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 2015-11-12
Authors and editors of page
Beatrice Proudfoot and Kelly Fretwell (2015).