Krill and Rockweed

Krill

Common Name/Scientific Name for Krill Common Name:Krill Scientific Name: Zooplankton

Description What do Krill look like? Krill look a lot like small shrimp. They shed their skin multiple times as they grow up. They're equipped with large, solid black eyes and two sets of antennas serving as tactile and sensors that allow them to feel and smell. What do they eat, how do they eat? -Krill are partly transparent, so when they eat plankton it colors their gut green. They eat algae, and plankton. How do Krill reproduce? -The male produces tiny sperm packets and uses his legs to transfer them to the female's reproductive organs. The female stores the sperm packet in a pouch until she is ready to lay her eggs. The eggs are fertilized while leaving her body. Are Krill endangered? - Yes, krill are endangered because of Global Warming.

Habitat Where do Krill live? Krill live in the ocean, all over the world but are most common and widespread in the Antarctic sea. Most live about 1,000 to 2,000 feet down, but some have been found at 13,100 feet down. What is their habitat like? - Deep, open water basically

Interesting Facts About Krill 1- There are as many as 85 different Krill species that exist in the oceans of the world. 2- Krill are an important part of the food chain, many types of animals depend on them for sustenance. 3- These animals spend the majority of their time near the surface of the water. 4- At night, many krill species move toward the upper levels of the water column to eat microscopic phytoplankton before retreating downward to try to elude predators during the day.

Rockweed

Common Name and Scientific Name for Rockweed Common Name: Rockweed Scientific Name: Fucus Spiralis

Description What does Rockweed look like?  What does it eat? It’s a plant, it doesn’t eat anything How does it reproduce? The bumps on the bulbs are reproductive structures called pits or conceptacles.  Special cells within the pits produce eggs and sperm which are released into the water column and fuse producing a baby plant. Is Rockweed endangered or threatened? - No

Habitat Where can you find Rockweed? - They are very common in the mid to high tide zone throughout the Puget sound.

Interesting Facts About Rockweed 1- They are members of a brown seaweed group called Phaeophyta. 2- Rockweed was once used by humans for cattle fodder and mulch but is not used today. 3-  Periwinkle snails and small crustaceans hide among the branches when the tide recedes while small fish move into the branches to feed at high tide.