Tube Anemone 

The tube anemone creates a tough leathery tube that sinks 2 feet into the sand to shield itself from predators. The tube worn is able to go down into the tube if a predator approaches and then can take the predator down the tube with it. After attacks the tube worn is able to grow back the tentacles it lost. 

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animal-guide/invertebrates/tube-anemone

POM- POM Anemone and Sea Spiders

The Pom-Pom Anemone is found in the Monterey Canyon. Down in the canyon you can also find sea spiders. Researcher have found out that sea spiders suck the juices out of sea anemones. Sea spiders are known as pycnogonids which suck the bodily fluids from other animals. Pom-pom anemones are large anemones that roll along the sea floor. While researchers were in the Monterey canyon they came upon sea spiders sucking the juices from the pom-pom anenomes. The anemones survived the attack of the sea spider, which means thats the could be a renewable resource for the sea spiders. Not all anemones are able to survive the attacks of these pycnogonids.

Sources: http://www.mbari.org/news/homepage/2010/seaspiders.html, http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animal-guide/invertebrates/pom-pom-anemone

Strawberry Anemone found right in Monterey Bay

What we learned

We learned a lot the past couple of weeks about various types of Anemones all over Monterey bay.
Some cool facts about Aneomones that we did not know about are:
 -They can live up to 100+ years
- Many of the Anemones are structured to protect them for their surroundings
- Anemones can be found in the depths of the ocean without sunlight

If we could do this project again, we would of found better ways to monitor some of these Anemones to prove some of the facts we discovered about them. Overall, we had a great experience learning about different Anemones and enjoyed researching them. 

Sources:
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animal-guide/invertebrates/carpet-anemone
http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/photos/colorful-sea-creatures/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tide_pool

                         

Carpet Anemone 

-live on coral reefs and like to hide in the crevices or under rock just like many other anemones
-they usually range throughout Indo-Pacific Ocean and size to be about 3ft long
-their nutrients is made by algae, which lives inside their tissue and produce sugar and protein for the anemone to stay healthy
-live 100 years+
- one of these anemones may host many types of anemone fishes
-they reproduce slower than other anemones, which causes them to over collect and sadly, that threatens their survival in the wilderness under the sea
-they are actually collected for pet trade throughout the years because of this

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animal-guide/invertebrates/carpet-anemone

Tides and the affect they have on Anemones

Anemones located in tides are built differently in many ways. As you can see below in the first photo this Anemone will close up when various things fall into it or next to it. Compared to the second photo, Anemones deep under have a softer outside shell. Anemones like the Giant Green have a rougher outside shell to protect them from objects or organisms from harming it. Also deep water Anemones and tide pool Anemones have different dietary necessities and that has a lot to do with the genetic built of each specie of Anemones.

Sources: http://oregontidepools.org/photogallery
http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/photos/colorful-sea-creatures/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tide_pool

Anemone Habitat Map




This is a map of where Anemones are located. They are found along the coast. Anemones are also found in the deep ocean.

Giant Green Anemone Feeding Video

Giant Green Anemone Feeding Video | Monterey Bay ...

This is a a video of a Giant Green Anemone feeding on a California mussel. The Giant Green Anemone has Nematocysts this paralyzes the prey and allows the anemone to feed on it easier. After the anemone finishes feeding and digestion, it releases its waste throw its mouth.

The Giant Green Anemone feeds mostly on sea urchin, detached mussels, small fish, and mussels. They usually are found in mussel beds because it increases their food ability. The anemone has a slow metabolism which means that it usually will feed only twice a month. 

http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=283377

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Anthopleura_xanthogrammica.html

Metridium Fields

-Metridium anemones have been known to clone themselves by splitting in half to form two polyps, which look identical

-also known as plumose anemones, which are feather-like anemones

-founded mostly in Pacific and Atlantic Oceans because they're much cooler 

-have many threadlike tentacles extending from the top of the smooth cylindrical column 

-tentacles can vary from a few centimeters tall to about a meter tall 

www.boydski.com/diving/photos/metridium.htm
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=100982

Epiactis prolifera

(Brooding Anemone)

The Brooding Anemone also known as the Epiactis prolifera are usually found in the sub-tidal zone. The brooding anemone is usual brown, greenish brown, dull green, red or pinkish red. They also have white lines that start at their mouth and then spread rapidly to the oral discs. They are usually found in the north-east Pacific Ocean. Brooding Anemone are photogenic hermaphrodite, which means they change sex at some point in their life. They start out as females and then switch to males. This means that most of the anemones are young females. Brooding anemone eat fish, shrimp, cab and jelly fish.

http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/eco/taxalab/ensy02/sangeetaa.htm

http://www.racerocks.com/racerock/eco/taxalab/ensy02/epiactis.jpg (photo)

 Aggregating Anemone

Sources:
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animal-guide/invertebrates/aggregating-anemone

Aggregating Anemone

Cool Facts:

- If an enemy attacks the Aggregating anemone they shoot poison darts which causes injury to both anemone.
- They can clone themselves by splitting in half, literally tearing themselves apart.
- When exposed to air their tentacles shrink in size.
- They have sticky bumps on their bodies that collect sand and bits of shells which provide camouflage and prevent them from drying out.
- These anemones live on rocks in tide pools and crevices.
- Each mass is a group of clones which are genetically identical and same sex.
- When sexual reproduction occurs, new combinations of genes and larvae that make new colonies in different areas.

Sources:
www.montereybayaquarium.org/animal-guide/invertebrates/aggregating-anemone

Anthopleura Xanthogrammica

(Giant Green Anemone)

Anthopleura Xanthogrammica are generally found on the west coast of Northern and Central America, from Alaska south to Panama. These creatures are found on the rocky shores. These creatures have to compete for space along the rocky shores. They are usually found in cold waters and high wave activity, and are usually found in mussel beds along the rocky shore. The Green Anemone are in danger for waste oil, coastal development, population. The Sea Anemone are also at risk because of humans, and human interactions on the rocky shore. The Giant Green Anemone has algae living inside of it. Having the algae in there guts, allows them to gain extra nutrients.



Sources:

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animal-guide/invertebrates/giant-green-anemone

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Anthopleura_xanthogrammica/

We are located in Monterey California. Monterey is a national marine sanctuary. Monterey isn't just a marine sanctuary, but also has many marine protected areas.  It is a home to many organism, and populations of sea creatures. We are focusing on sea anemones and how they are affected.

This is an image of a Sun Burst Sea Anemone.
Source: "http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/174/cache/colorful07-sea-anemone_17431_600x450.jpg"

We are three girls researching sea anemones in the Monterey Bay.