 |
Investigation 1: Settlers on a Hanging Rope |
What kinds of organisms will attach to a rope hanging in a marina?
Materials you'll need-
- 1/2 inch Polypropylene rope was used in the study pictured on this page.
- Weights for bottom of line were scrap iron washers.
- Black electricians tape was used to mark the line in meter intervals.
- A tag briefly explaining the project is recommended, and will help prevent people from taking the ropes. The cards in this study were laminated to prevent moisture damage.
- Jewelers' loup or good magnifier for observing and identifying organisms that arrive.
 |
|
Hanging your Ropes-
Before hanging a rope inside a marina it's important to ask permission of the marina management. They can help identify places to hang study ropes where they will not pose a hazard to boat owners.
Remember that ropes should be hung from floating docks, rather than from high piers, so that settling organisms will never be exposed to air at low tide. Check the tide book and try to hang the rope to a depth that it never rests on the bottom, even at the lowest tide. This will keep other animals from crawling up the rope and feeding on your settling organisms.
The rope in this picture was first placed in the water in March. This photograph was taken in October.
The organisms that arrive--What are they?
To get you started identifying organisms that might show up on a rope hanging in Puget Sound marinas, open Catalog of Settling Organisms. Then make your own guide to plants and animals of your local marina.
|
|
|
|