Habitat photos

1 2 -3- 4 5
Giant kelp plants lean over in ocean currents, underwater.  Individual kelp plants grow from the rocky reef, to which they are attached, up to the ocean surface and form a vibrant community in which fishes, mammals and invertebrates thrive, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Giant kelp plants lean over in ocean currents, underwater. Individual kelp plants grow from the rocky reef, to which they are attached, up to the ocean surface and form a vibrant community in which fishes, mammals and invertebrates thrive.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 23426  
A kelp forest.  Giant kelp grows rapidly, up to 2' per day, from the rocky reef on the ocean bottom to which it is anchored, toward the ocean surface where it spreads to form a thick canopy.  Myriad species of fishes, mammals and invertebrates form a rich community in the kelp forest.  Lush forests of kelp are found through California's Southern Channel Islands, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
A kelp forest. Giant kelp grows rapidly, up to 2' per day, from the rocky reef on the ocean bottom to which it is anchored, toward the ocean surface where it spreads to form a thick canopy. Myriad species of fishes, mammals and invertebrates form a rich community in the kelp forest. Lush forests of kelp are found through California's Southern Channel Islands.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 23428  
Red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater.  The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Species: Red gorgonian, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 23431  
California golden gorgonian on rocky reef, underwater. The golden gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Each individual polyp is a distinct animal, together they secrete calcium that forms the structure of the colony. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by, Muricea californica, San Clemente Island
California golden gorgonian on rocky reef, underwater. The golden gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Each individual polyp is a distinct animal, together they secrete calcium that forms the structure of the colony. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Species: California golden gorgonian, Muricea californica
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 25397  
A view of an underwater forest of giant kelp.  Giant kelp grows rapidly, up to 2' per day, from the rocky reef on the ocean bottom to which it is anchored, toward the ocean surface where it spreads to form a thick canopy.  Myriad species of fishes, mammals and invertebrates form a rich community in the kelp forest.  Lush forests of kelp are found through California's Southern Channel Islands, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
A view of an underwater forest of giant kelp. Giant kelp grows rapidly, up to 2' per day, from the rocky reef on the ocean bottom to which it is anchored, toward the ocean surface where it spreads to form a thick canopy. Myriad species of fishes, mammals and invertebrates form a rich community in the kelp forest. Lush forests of kelp are found through California's Southern Channel Islands.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 25400  
Red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater.  The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis, San Clemente Island
Red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Species: Red gorgonian, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 25406  
Red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater.  The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by, Lophogorgia chilensis, San Clemente Island
Red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Species: Red gorgonian, Lophogorgia chilensis
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 25413  
A view of an underwater forest of giant kelp.  Giant kelp grows rapidly, up to 2' per day, from the rocky reef on the ocean bottom to which it is anchored, toward the ocean surface where it spreads to form a thick canopy.  Myriad species of fishes, mammals and invertebrates form a rich community in the kelp forest.  Lush forests of kelp are found through California's Southern Channel Islands, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
A view of an underwater forest of giant kelp. Giant kelp grows rapidly, up to 2' per day, from the rocky reef on the ocean bottom to which it is anchored, toward the ocean surface where it spreads to form a thick canopy. Myriad species of fishes, mammals and invertebrates form a rich community in the kelp forest. Lush forests of kelp are found through California's Southern Channel Islands.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 25432  
Kelp beds adorn the coastline of San Clemente Island, aerial photograph, Macrocystis pyrifera
Kelp beds adorn the coastline of San Clemente Island, aerial photograph.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 25984  
Kelp canopy, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp canopy.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00250  
Jack mackerel schooling amid kelp forest, Macrocystis pyrifera, Trachurus symmetricus, San Clemente Island
Jack mackerel schooling amid kelp forest.
Species: Pacific jack mackerel, Macrocystis pyrifera, Trachurus symmetricus
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00256  
Kelp canopy, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp canopy.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00600  
Kelp canopy, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp canopy.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00601  
Kelp canopy, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp canopy.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00602  
Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00617  
Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00628  
coralline algae reef, Porolithon, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary
coralline algae reef.
Species: Coralline algae, Porolithon
Location: Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary, American Samoa
Image ID: 00729  
Kelp plants with fronds extended in current, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp plants with fronds extended in current.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01050  
Kelp fronds, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp fronds.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01273  
Kelp plants growing toward surface and spreading to form a canopy, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp plants growing toward surface and spreading to form a canopy.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01293  
Kelp fronds and forest, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp fronds and forest.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01497  
Kelp fronds, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp fronds.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01498  
Kelp canopy, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp canopy.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 02118  
Kelp forest canopy, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp forest canopy.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 02121  
Kelp detail, San Diego, Macrocystis pyrifera
Kelp detail, San Diego.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: California
Image ID: 02125  
Kelp detail showing pneumatocysts (air bladders) attached to stipe, San Diego, Macrocystis pyrifera
Kelp detail showing pneumatocysts (air bladders) attached to stipe, San Diego.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: California
Image ID: 02126  
Kelp spread over ocean surface to form a canopy, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp spread over ocean surface to form a canopy.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 02129  
Kelp frond in motion, time exposure, Macrocystis pyrifera, Santa Barbara Island
Kelp frond in motion, time exposure.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 02344  
Kelp forest, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp forest.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 02409  
Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts, Macrocystis pyrifera, Santa Barbara Island
Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Santa Barbara Island, California
Image ID: 02436  
1 2 -3- 4 5
All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.