Orange sheath tunicate

The habitat our research was preformed in was off of the docks at the end of Town Landing Rd. Falmouth, Maine. This invasive species was found in a rocky intertidal and we performed the observation while it was low tide. The air smelled of sea salt, seaweed, and vaguely of gasoline. From the shore, we could see boats, Clapboard island, water, seagulls, and buoys. On the shore, we saw the sand covered with different forms of seaweed. This includes rockweed, knotted wrack, and various different unidentified species of algae. Large rocks lined the Southern and Eastern sides of the observation sights. We were surprised when we found a rock with a similar discoloration to the organism. At first, we assumed the rock had chain sea squirt growing on it, but after further observations and the discovery of the actual substance, we realized it was just a rock. Botrylloides violaceus is hermaphroditic, meaning it has the ability to reproduce asexually and sexually. In our habitat, we found around 6 different species. Our study was originally to be conducted in a user-placed quadrat, but our species was found by just looking around. By just looking at our species, it does not seem to have an immense impact upon the seaweed it is growing upon but it seems that the species it is on is dead.