Pigeon Point intertidal

Pigeon Point in San Mateo County, CA is one of my favorite tidepooling
locations and I have visited this area for many years. In late March I returned
to the south side of the point. Here waves crash into rocks with a population of
the sea palm, Postelesia palmaeformis. The Pigeon Pt. lighthouse is in the
background.

Many of the palms exhibited desiccation stress, perhaps due to a combination
of mid-day low tides, warm sun, and wind. 

Another of my favorite kelp species on the California coast is this species,
Dictyoneurum californicum. It occurs as clusters of blades on rocks in
the low intertidal. I love the color and texture of the blades. 

At least two species of seagrasses in the genus Phyllospadix appear
to be present at Pigeon Pt. Here is P. scouleri underwater. It
occupied the low intertidal, often in channels between higher rocks.

Red seaweeds (Rhodophyta) are the stars of the show at Pigeon Pt. since they are in such high abundance relative to other seaweeds. Here is a sampling of species. From left to right is Osmundea spectabilis, Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii (with some small epiphytic Microcladia coulteri), and a coralline alga - the most unusual "rhodolith" I've ever seen!

"Leafy" red seaweeds were relatively common in the low intertidal too. I
think this is one of the Botryoglossum species (Delesseriaceae).

Out on the rocks near the sea palms there were a few deeper tide pools
that had anemones, and high concentrations of purple urchins. 

I found a sculpin in one of these pools as well.

Finding this tube worm, Serpula columbiana, and photographing it underwater
was a treat. The colorful plume is used to catch food and accomplish gas change.
The operculum can be seen behind the the plume at top right. It is used to seal up
the tube when the animal retracts. Hat tip to my friend Allison Gong for the
species name.