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Pyramimonas sp.
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Pyramimonas pyramimonas
On the east side of the island is the largest pool with Pyramimonas. Samples taken from the green water in the upper tidepools and photgraphed at 400 power under the microscope.
bio trip A session with the biology class by the high tidepools at Race Rocks
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Protoctista
Division Chlorophyta
Class Prasinophyceae
Order Pyramimonadales
Family Pyramimomonadacea
Genus pyramidomonas or Pyramimonas
Species unspecified
COMMON NAME: Pyramimonas
pool 1 pyramimonas sample pyramimonas pyram
Sampling from Tidepool 1 which was an emerald green color in September, 2005 A sample delivered for testing. Astrid with her sample of Pyramimonas, applying the probe of the salinometer. Testing the water from Pool 1 for Temperature and Salinity.
Link to the primary productivity file

Pyramimonas is a green micro-algae, that is a type of  phytoplankton.

Phytoplankton refers to the autotrophic component of the plankton that drifts in the water column.

 Most phytoplankton are too small to be individually seen with the unaided eye. However, when present in high numbers, their presence may appear as discoloration of the water (the color of which may vary with the phytoplankton present).This is certainly the case in the high intertidal tide pools at Race Rocks

The intense green color of the pools, swirly coloration of the water and a frothy covering early in the day indicate high photosynthetic capability. These plankton have an interesting response to changing salinity referred to in the video above.

Phytoplankton, like other plants, obtain energy through photosynthesis, and so must live in the well-lit surface layer (termed the euphotic zone) of an ocean, sea, or lake. Through photosynthesis, phytoplankton (and terrestrial plants) are responsible for much of the oxygen present in the Earth's atmosphere.

 Phytoplankton is consumed by microscopic animals called zooplankton (these are the second level in the food chain).
Zooplankton is consumed by Crustaceans (the third level in the food chain).
Fish that eat crustaceans could constitute the fourth trophic level, while seals consuming the fishes are the fifth.

A major reference work on this species may be found at :

http://megasun.bch.umontreal.ca/protists/pyram/appearance.html

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The Race Rocks Taxonomy
This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students of
Lester B. Pearson College
Oct. 2005 Astrid Raquel Argueta PC year 31
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