APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

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Diatom
Licmophora sp.
- on Obelia geniculata 1

Diatom
Licmophora sp.
- on Obelia geniculata 2

Diatom
Licmophora sp.
- on Obelia geniculata 3

Diatom
Licmophora sp.
- on Obelia geniculata 4

Diatom
Licmophora sp.
- on Obelia geniculata covered
Ascophyllum nodosum 1

Diatom
Licmophora sp.
- on Obelia geniculata covered
Ascophyllum nodosum 2

Diatom
Licmophora sp.
- on Obelia geniculata covered
Ascophyllum nodosum 3

The Licmophora species here was found on the hydroid Obelia geniculata, which had itself formed colonies on the brown algae Ascophyllum nodosum, Egg or Knotted wrack. The reason why this has happened is that the Ascophyllum has become adrift, possibly via cutting / harvesting, possibly in NE USA, Canada or Ireland, and has had enough time for Obelia geniculata to colonize it, and then the diatom colonize the Obelia.

The material here was found at Perranporth, one of the Cornish storm beaches where drift items are often found that have crossed the Atlantic, indeed Ascophyllum nodosum can be found with Buoy or Small Gooseneck barnacles, or sometimes both, attached to it, suggestive of how far the Ascophyllum nodosum has travelled.

Nearly all the Ascophyllum nodosum that had washed-up at Perranporth, Cornwall on the 30.01.15, had Obelia geniculata and the diatom Licmophora on it.

The same type of material / species also washed-up at Gwithian Towans, near Hayle, Cornwall. 01.02.15.

Species here might be Licmophora abbreviata.

AlgaeBase is a database of information on algae that includes terrestrial, marine and freshwater organisms.

The main objective of this website is in furthering environmental awareness and education through the medium of photography. To increase awareness and access to the wildlife of the region and help

people find and identify it. Sometimes the difference between species is obvious but many species can only be determined by observing microscopic characteristics that are specific to any one species.