Hello fellow readers.
I am returning from my sabbatical from a few years back. I plan on doing this article once a month, or so. So, to start off, I wish all readers a happy new year!
Our waters here are so plentiful. The kelp beds attract nearly 800 species. We are so fortunate.
A few organisms wanting in on the celebration are the “pryosomes,” who have been visiting our front yard over the past few weeks.
Pyrosomes, colonial tunicates, are/or colonial organisms as are they referred to, are made up of hundreds to thousands of individual tunicates called Zooids! Many may mistake the organism as a “jelly,” but they are actually more related to us. This is because they have a spinal cord and are grouped with the chordata phylum. Scientist use this method called taxonomy to group and organize all organisms on earth based on similar characteristics. Coincidentally, I just reviewed this in my PADI Naturalist course with the ultra-famous instructor, Suzy. It was quite easy to identify different species quickly at our aquarium, the casino underwater park. To be part of the Chordata phylum a shared characteristic is a notochord, like a backbone. Do you have one (I know some are still trying to grow one)? Anyways, that is what separates pyrosomes from fellow jellyfish.
Pyrosomes are floating colonies of zooids that filter feed on plankton. Each zooid pulls water from the outside to its filtration station. Once the water is filtered it expels the water into the inside of the cylinder type body. This volume of water gives the propulsion mobility. Pyrosome colonies can range in size from a few centimeters to 60 feet long! Watch out boat owners. They will get sucked into generators intake systems and shut them down. Vessel Assist is known to get very busy during these times, when they appear with cold water upwellings.
I recently read they can also get wide enough for a human to swim through the internal cavity. I am looking forward to experiencing this! Although, it would not be fun getting stuck inside one.
Pyrosomes also have the ability to produce bioluminescent light. The zooids communicate. If one shuts off the light, they all will compromise. When pyrosome die, their body sinks quickly to the ocean bottom creating a buffet for bottom dwelling creatures. Often, I have seen one pyrosome per one happy Garibaldi. I have also seen a large colony wrapped in a jellies tentacles.
These wonders are tough to touch and bumpy and slimy. It is a most beautiful sight when they come in huge colonies. Who said it doesn’t snow underwater?
See you at the stairs …
