This article is a part of our second newsletter titled, The Persaud Catalogue Scientific Journal of Marine Biology. In this journal, we will publish information concerning the various marine flora & fauna of certain places. This newsletter will publish sporadically, & not on a timed basis like The Persaud Catalog. This journal is in affiliation with The Persaud Catalog, however it is a separate entity. In todays article, we will catalog the various species of seagrass found in & around Malibu Lagoon State Beach. On May 13th, we sent 2 field agents to Malibu Lagoon State Beach. These Field Agents have collected samples of the seaweed species that were found, & these samples were studied. In this article, we shall discuss the marine flora surrounding Malibu Lagoon State Beach. We will state the density of these species, the place where it was found the most, & a detailed description of the species. Please note that this was done with the correct permits, do not attempt to imitate this survey without being aware of the permits necessary to do so. This is the second survey of 5 survey’s in Malibu Lagoon that will be taken over the next 5 years. In May of 2023, May of 2024, May of 2025, May of 2026, & May of 2027, we will take samples of the seagrass & seaweed surrounding Malibu Lagoon State Beach. At the end of these 5 years, we will collect & organize the data & publish a finalized document.
The Results Of The Survey
Please note that all of these results were taken between 4:36 PM on May 13th, & 4:37 on May 13th. The tidal positioning at this time may influence the results of this survey.
Species No. 1: Corallinales (Red Coralline Algae)
The first kind of marine flora that we discovered along the beach was Red Coralline Algae. Our specimen was discovered at 34°1’53” North & 118°40’53” West, & was approximately 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) long, as well as 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) wide. This species was found the least often along the beach, & was primarily found toward the northeastern side of the beach. Due to there being at least 2 different taxonomic families of Coraline Algae that grow in the nearby area, it is not clear which species this specimen belongs to. Red Coralline Algae is extremely important to the marine ecosystems of California, as they provide food & shelter to many marine animals. When growing in the wild, they grow upright in large patches, or grow against rocks. They appear purple or pink, have look similar to rough coral. Typically, individuals in this species will reach 8 inches in length at maturity.
Species No. 2: Zostera Marina (Sea Wrack / Common Eelgrass)
Eelgrass was very commonly found on this beach, with a concentration towards the northeastern area of the beach. Our specimen was found at 34°1’53” North & 118°40’53” West, & was approximately 27 inches (68.58 centimeters) long, as well as 0.5 centimeters (0.19685 inches) wide. This species usually grows in water of 10 meters (32.8084 feet) or less. Eelgrass is very recognizable as it has long bright green blades, & is the only species in the Zostera Genus along Californias coast. Sea Wrack usually grows in meadows, & it often consumed by waterfowl. It is extremely important to the coastal ecosystem as they provide a natural spawning area for many different marine species. This species is distributed from Alaska, to Baja California. This species has existed for at least 8 million years, & has always been fundamental to California’s estuarine ecosystems.
Species No. 3: Macrocystis Pyfiera (Giant Kelp / Bladder Kelp)
Giant Kelp was found equally as frequently as Eelgrass along the coastline, with a similar concentration toward the north eastern area of the beach. Our specimen was found at 34°1’53” North & 118°40’53” West & approximately 16.5 inches (41.91 centimeters) long, & 1 centimeter (0.393701 inches) wide. While Macrocystis Pyfiera is technically not a seagrass or a seaweed, it will still be included for the purposes of this article. Giant Kelp is a protist, or a heterokont, meaning that it is not a plant, animal, or fungus. Giant kelp is usually a brownish green colour, with bumpy thin leaves that are more then an inch wide, & bulbous air filled fruit that make them float up in the ocean. Under optimal conditions, Giant kelp can grow to 175 feet long (53.34 meters) however it usually only reaches 100 feet. Shockingly, they can grow up to 2 feet (0.6096 meters) every day, a growth rate only matched by bamboo. Giant kelp is found from Alaska to Baja California, & is also found in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, & certain parts of South America. They grow in rocky areas, deeper then 20 feet (6.096 meter).
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