Common Rockweed

 Common Rockweed—Fucus Distichus evanescens is one of edible algae which can be seen in Alaska. It lives in areas of North Pacific: Arctic Ocean, Bering Sea, and Aleutian Islands Alaska to California, Japan, and Russia. It prefers to live in low and high tide and intertidal rocky shorelines. It grows up 20 inches tall, and can be seen all seasons around those areas. It’s strong enough to survive in freezing temperatures and fresh water. The color is yellow-brown like olive to medium blown. You can easily find it since it has distinguished shapes like a mitten and many branches and pods with a rough touch. Since the pod holds air, if you squash it, it makes popping sounds. It also has holdfast and blades with a midrib. Young branches are often flat and don’t have pods.

 As other plants, common rockweed is home to marine species such as periwinkles, snails, or crabs, and it’s also primary food for periwinkles. Rockweed is not only a secure place to feed or hide from predators, but also a sunshade for many marine organisms. It has a vital role for marine ecosystem.

Reference

http://www.seaweedsofalaska.com/species.asp?SeaweedID=34

http://pendiva.com/seaweed/fucus/

http://www.cobscook.org/rockweed-as-habitat.htm