Discover the marine life from our shoreline.

A walk along the shoreline offers many pleasures which include observing many forms of marine life. Fauna and flora are readily visible to the eye. But the shoreline also possesses secrets not evident to casual observation.

The shore is also the home of the “little beauties”. Growing on rocks, large seaweeds. floating docks and often entangled in storm-driven drift are small seaweeds.

From one to five inches, these seaweeds are representative of all the algae classes red, green and brown. They are not an official class but just a convenient term to describe them below. Under the microscope their symmetry, color and structure become evident. Often seen attached to these seaweeds are jewel-like diatoms, a second remarkable population. These microscopic, one-cell algae with siliceous (glass) walls have numerous shapes and configurations. Some are solitary while others form chains or dwell within gelatinous tubes. Internal pigments give them a golden color. Intermingled with the seaweeds and diatoms are microscopic animals. Common microfauna include suctorians, hydroids and bryozoans.

The following photos and microscopic images are not intended to provide an academic or scientific treatise in marine biology. The marine environment localized at the shore is immense and complex. The intent of the following is to provide a mere glimpse into the world of these small beauties.