Organisms in the Neighborhood

• Common Eelgrass (Zostera Marina) 

Is a plant species ( not a seaweed) that lives in the very low shore down to 10m deep and can for dense meadows. They are inportant because the provide shelter for seahorses and pipefish and are a nursery for small fish, cuddlefish, shellfish and rays. Common names for eegrass are wigeaon grass, broad- leaved grass wrack, marlee, sedge, slitch, and sweet sea grass. 

Taxonomy 

• Kingdom- Plantae

• Phylum- Vascular Plant

• Order- Alimateles 

• Family- Zosteraceae

• Genus- Zostera

• Species- Zostera Marina

Conservation status is that common eegrass is on the OSPAR  (Outsourced Service Provider's Audit Report) threatened and/or declining species and the habitats 

• Sea Lettuce ( Ulva Lactuca) 

Sea lettuce is is a type of flat green algae of the family Ulvaceae that can be found worldwide. It is considered one of the most usable seaweeds, with applications that include its use. Sea lettuce is edible algae. 

Taxonomy

• Kingdom- Plantae

• Phylum- Chlorophyta 

• Family- Ulvaceae

• Genus- Ulva 

• Species- Algae

At the current time sea lettuce is not threatened or endangered 

Bottlenose Dolphins ( Turiops) 

Bottlenose Dolphins are aquatic marine mammals in genus turiops. Some fun facts about these dolphins is they have a bigger brain then humans, the outermost layer of there skin is shed every two hours, and they eat 15 to 30 pounds of food per day. These mammals grow up to 13 feet long and weigh up to 1,300 pounds.  They live in  temperate and tropical waters around the world. 

Taxonomy

• Kingdom- Animalia

• Phylum- Chordate

• Class- Mammalia

• Order- Artiodaca

• Family- Delphinidae

• Genus- Tursiops

• Species- Truncatus

The bottlenose dolphin in the United States are currently not endangered or threatned under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), but they are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). 

Earless Seas ( Phocidae) 

Earless seals are despite the name they do have ears they are just hidden beneath the surface of there skin. They are found on every continent on earth but most occur in colder water places. The thick blubber they have keep them warm. They're eaten by sharks. 

Taxonomy

• Kingdom- Animalia

• Phylum- Chordate

• Class- Mammalia

• Order- Carnivora

• Family-  Phocidae 

• Genus- phocidae

• Species- Seal

Conservation status of these seals is they are not endangered or threatened but there are some seals that are endangered.

Nudibranch ( Nudibranchia) 

These are a group of softed bodied marine gastropod molluscs that shed their shells after the larval stage. They can grow as small as 0.25 inches or as large as 12 in long. Some are flashy pink to intense purple, bright yellow to deep green blue or even red. 

Taxonomy

• Kingdom- Animalia

• Phylum- Mollusca 

• Class- Nudipleura 

• Order- Nudibranchia 

• Family- opistobranchs 

• Genus- Nudibranchia

• Species- Nudibranchs 

Conservation status of nudibranch are currently endangered due to habitat loss and degradation, pollution, and over fishing. 

Blue Ringed Octopus ( Hapalochlaena)

These octopus are four extremely venomous species of octopus that are found in the tide pools and coral reefs in the Pacific  and Indian oceans. 

Taxonomy

• Kingdom- Animalia

• Phylum- Mollusca

• Class- Cephalopod

• Order- Octopada

• Family-Octopodidae

• Genus- Hapalochaena

• Species- Octopus

Conservation status of the blue ringed octopus is that they are endangered due to Man made pressure however they arent commonly seen.