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Pelvetiopsis limitata - Dwarf rockweed
Geographic range:
Vancouver Island, British Columbia to San Luis Obispo County, California
Key features:
Like other rockweeds it has dichotomous branches and is olive green. It is smaller than similar species, only 8-15 cm long. No midrib on thallus.
Similar species:
Silvetia compressa --
Elongate clumps
Fucus gardneri -- Bladderwrack
Hesperophycus californicus --
Hairy rockweed
Habitat(s):
exposed rocky shore
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Primary common name:
Dwarf Rockweed |
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ITIS code:
11354 |
Synonymous name(s):
Pelvetia fastigiata limitata |
General grouping:
Brown seaweed/algae |
| Geographic Range |
Range description:
Pelvetiopsis limitata occurs from Vancouver Island, British Columbia to San Luis Obispo County, California. |
Northern latitude extent:
-- |
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Southern latitude extent:
-- |
East longitude extent:
-- |
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West longitude extent:
-- |
| Intertidal Height |
Lowest intertidal height:
0 meters OR 0 feet |
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Highest intertidal height:
0 meters OR 0 feet |
Intertidal height notes:
Pelvetiopsis limitata can be found in the high intertidal. |
| Subtidal Depth Range |
Minimum depth:
0 meters OR 0 feet |
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Maximum depth:
0 meters OR 0 feet |
Subtidal depth notes:
-- |
| Habitats |
Habitat(s):
exposed rocky shore |
Habitat notes:
Pelvetiopsis limitata lives on rocks in the high intertidal of exposed outer coast habitats. It thrives in regions subject to strong surf. |
| Abundance |
Relative abundance:
Pelvetiopsis limitata is common in the high intertidal of exposed coasts. |
| Species Description |
General description:
Pelvetiopsis limitata is a perennial brown Alga, division Phaeophyta, in the class Phaeophyceae, order Fucales and the family Fucaceae. It is named after the French botanist, Dr. Pelvet. Its common name, Dwarf Rockweed comes from how closely it resembles Rockweed, Fucus gardneri, but in a dwarfed form. Pelvetiopsis limitata is considered a good indicator organism of exposed rocky coasts. It maintains a high position in the intertidal region and forms extensive zones. |
Distinctive features:
Pelvetiopsis limitata has an olive green to light tan thallus that arrises from a small discoid holdfast. The thallus is dichotomously branched, meaning it lacks a central axis and thus the branches lie mostly in one plane. The branches are cylindrical at the base becoming flattened to cylindrical in the upper fronds. They lack midribs and tend to arch inward. Mature branch tips develop warty inflated conceptacles in which the gamete producing organs lie. Male and female organs can be found on the same seaweed and each female organ produces a single, functional egg cell.
Pelvetiopsis limitata can at times be confused with Rockweed, Fucus gardneri, Hesperophycus californicus, and Silvetia compressa. Fucus gardneri and Hesperophycus californicus can be differentiated by their wider fronds with midribs since Pelvetiopsis limitata has narrower fronds and lacks a midrib. Silvetia compressa can grow to be much larger than Pelvetiopsis limitata and tends to have a more southern distribution. |
Size:
Pelvetiopsis limitata can grow up to 15 cm tall. |
| Natural History |
General natural history:
Pelvetiopsis limitata, like all photosynthetic organisms, contains the green pigment chlorophyll. They additionally also contain other gold and brown pigments which give all brown algae their coloration. The dominant pigment found in brown algae in called fucoxanthin and it reflects yellow light. |
Predator(s):
Limpets and other invertebrate grazers feed on Pelvetiopsis limitata. |
Prey:
Pelvetiopsis limitata nourishes itself through photosynthesis, converting the energy of light to the energy of carbohydrate molecules. |
| Feeding behavior |
Feeding behavior(s):
Photosynthetic |
Feeding behavior notes:
-- |
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References:
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| Abbott, I.A., and G.J. Hollenberg. 1976. Marine Algae of California. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. 827 p. |
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| MARINe. 2004 (Updated 12/09/04). Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network. World Wide Web electronic publication, http://www.marine.gov, Accessed [04/22/06]
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| Meinkoth, N.A. 1998. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashore Creatures. A.A. Knopf, New York, NY. 813 p. |
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| O\'Clair, R.M. 2000. North Pacific Seaweeds. Plant Press, Auke Bay, Alaska. 162 p. |
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| Waaland, R. 1977. Common Seaweeds of the Pacific Coast. Pacific Search Press, Seattle, Washington. 120 p. |
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Data supplied by SIMoN Sanctuary Integrated Monitoring Network
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