Take a good field guide and maybe a hand lens to explore some fantastic tide pools on the Pacific Coast.
Botanical Beach, British Columbia, Canada
Botanical Beach is in Juan de Fuca Provincial Park. It is not far from Port Renfrew on the south coast of Vancouver Island. It is world famous for its diversity of shore life and its many tide pools. The whole area is a protected zone. Nothing should be taken away from the beach other than photographs, and nothing should be left other than footprints! It is a fantastic place to observe shore creatures, but not to interfere with them in any way.
Three Unusual Animals of Botanical Beach
Orange Cup Coral (Balanophyllia elegans)
This small stony coral is the only species to be found on Pacific shores. It will normally be lurking in shady places or under ledges low down on the shore. They are only about 10mm, but are easily spotted because of their fluorescent orange pigment.
Giant Pacific Chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri)
Up to 30cm long makes this the largest chiton in the world. It does not often cling onto the surface of rock (as other chitons do) and will slowly roll up if handled. Usually a brownish colour, with a very leathery texture, they have minute blunt spines which are covered in slime to prevent unwanted organisms from settling on their surface.
Their other common name is ‘The Gumboot Chiton’. Giant Chitons are frequently found wandering around in the lower tide pools.
Leaf Barnacle (Pollicipes polymerus)
This barnacle (the one in the image alongside this article) is unmistakeable. It is usually found in large clumps, often mixed with Californian Mussels, on wave swept coasts. The flexible greyish stalk, which can be almost 3 inches long, is covered with fine spines, and the ‘head end’ – furthest away from the rock – is covered by a number of scaly white plates of varying sizes. When feeding this ‘head end’ opens up and feathery feet poke out to capture plankton and edible organic particles.
Life in Rock Pools
Rock Pools (or Tide Pools) retain seawater when the tide goes out. This means that the animals will not be at risk of drying out, but they will experience many other problems. Rain water can dramatically lower the salinity of the water in rock pools, and evaporation can raise it. Temperatures will fluctuate much more rapidly in a tide pool than in the sea. Both problems become worse the higher up the beach the pool is located, with those near low water mark remaining very similar to the adjacent sea. These low water pools are best for observing the more unusual animals.
Main reference: Pacific Coast – National Audubon Society Nature Guides.
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