Science Sundays Week 1: Seaweed

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This summer the Bruce Museum Seaside Center is bringing science to the shore. Each Sunday, we will be hosting a plethora of fun science activities, including science experiments about the ocean, sea species identification, and so much more! To kickoff our first Science Sunday, we took a look at seaweed. Our young scientists had the chance to do some fieldwork- collecting samples of different seaweed specimens. They then brought the specimen back to the center where they used reference books and their saltwater savvy. After correctly identifying their seaweed, each biologist took a closer look under the compound microscope, getting up close and personal with their algae. These explorers found three different major groups of seaweed: chlorophyta (green), phaeophyta (brown) and rhodophyta (red). Join us this Sunday for another fun day of science!

(Above) Here we have our scientist Katie who found a Green seaweed known as Sea Lettuce (Ulva lactuca). It is identifiable by its bright green color and abundance here at the beach. 

(Above) Another green seaweed was found by scientist Bella who found a seaweed known as Dead Man’s Fingers (Codium fragile). This seaweed is also known as “Green Fleece” and is a non-native species from East Asia that came to the sound during the 20th century. 

(Above) Hazel found Rockweed (Fucus sp.), a type of brown seaweed. As Hazel noted in her lab notebook entry, Rockweed is identifiable by the air bladders that help the seaweed to float to the surface of the water so it can get more sunlight. 

(Above) Bella also found one of the red seaweeds known as Irish Moss (Chondrus crispus). While the color of the seaweed may vary from red, maroon, dark purple or even bleached from being exposed to the sun, the seaweed is identifiable by the smooth round blades that split into two at the ends. 

Emma Castiblanco, 2021 Seaside Center Natturalist