Native SpeciesBladder wrack

Fucus vesiculosus
FOUND by lookout3
2009-08-20
Cape Elizabeth
ID Confirmed
Quality checked by
Peer reviewed by
Field Notes
I am happy because we are on the coast of Maine in a tidepool with a marine biology teacher in our group. It is a beautiful day, sunny and warm, and many people are in the water. I see airplanes, boats, rocks, seaweed, waves, birds, and buoys. I hear waves, gulls, and a plane. I smell the ocean. We were surprised to find a live slipper shell, Crepidula, and a limpet in our quadrat. We also found two invertebrates that we need to identify. They might be sponges, tunicates, or bryzoans. We need to do some more research. We took pictures of these specimens. The seaweed was very slippery, but no one went in the water.
Supporting Evidence
Photo of my evidence.
This seaweed has paired vesicles, or air bladders, on either side of its midrib.
Photo of my evidence.
This specimen has flat blades that are dichotomously branched.
Photo of my evidence.
A midrib is present on each blade.
Species Observation: Species Looked For
Did you find it?: 
I think I found it
Scientific name:
Fucus vesiculosus
Common name:
Bladder wrack
Is it alive?: 
All alive
Count of individuals: 
Coverage: 
Less than 1/4 covered
Reproduction: 
Vegetative structures (plants)
How big is it?: 
Greater than 10 cm
Is it male or female?: 
Sampling method: 
Quadrat (user-placement)
Transect
Photo of our sampling method.
Place Studied
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Map this species
Latitude: 
N 43.561320 °
Longitude: 
W -70.219420 °
Observation Site Information
A photo of our study site.
Name:
lookout3's visit to Kettle Cove
Habitat: 
Coastal - Rocky intertidal
Trip Information
Name:
Kettle Cove
Trip date: 
Thu, 2009-08-20 13:30
Town or city: 
Cape Elizabeth
Type of investigation: 
Species and Habitat Survey
Ecosystem: 
Coastal
Watershed: 
Presumpscot
Sampling Method: 
Quadrat (randomized- placement)
Nearest waterbody: 
Casco Bay
Time of high tide AM: 
Thu, 2009-08-20 11:31
Time of high tide PM: 
Thu, 2009-08-20 23:49
Time of low tide AM: 
Thu, 2009-08-20 05:18
Time of low tide PM: 
Thu, 2009-08-20 17:32
Habitat Observations
Species diversity: 
12 different species
Evidence of vectors: 
Boats
Paved road
Walking trail
People
gravel boat launch
Water temperature: 
22.1°C
pH: 
8.0
Dissolved oxygen: 
12.0mg/L
Salinity: 
30.0ppt

Comments

Thanks, that is always a great feature to remember to distinguish these two species.

good call - the paired air bladders occur specifically in F. vesiculosus. Also note in your bottom picture the lack of a distinct ridge along the receptacle; a ridge being indicative of F. spiralis. Thanks for helping out!

these look really weird, did they smell bad