Day Hike - Alki Beach Park & Alki Point

Meeting place and time 9:00 AM at Constellation Park, Alki Beach

Leader's notes Trip is to explore the fauna and flora of the Alki Beach intertidal. Marine intertidal animals and plants have unique adaptations that permit them to survive in this environment. The adaptations are facinating and the animals are more abundant than you might think. We'll talk about the interesting adaptations as we turn over rocks, then carefully return them to their original positions. We may find sponges, including the beautiful Red Encrusting Sponge, and there is always a good chance we will be able to find nudibranchs (sea slugs). We'll see lots of anemones, interesting worms, and if your eyes are sharp...chitons. There will be several species of crustaceans, like crabs, shrimp and barnacles. And lots of Gastropods - limpets, snails and hopefully some facinating Bubble Shells. There will be echinoderms like sea stars and sea cucumbers and if we're lucky a sea urchin. There will be sea squirts, and intertidal fish. The algae, too are unique and they have interesting adaptations. They aren't vascular plants like you see in the forest. (One agae produces acid, one produces carbon monoxide, one makes tasty sushi, another can be pickled.) Plan to bring water, a field guide, curiosity and a small plastic, clear tupperware bowl for observing animals while in seawater. Wear shoes that can get wet, or calf high wading boots. Cameras are good. If you can serve as an assistant instructor, I would be delighted to have you join us. Please let me know.