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A very special habitat


A very special habitat
Photo Information
Copyright: Krzysztof Pabis (cataclysta) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 704 W: 112 N: 1593] (4728)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-03
Categories: River
Camera: Olympus C-8080 WZ
Exposure: f/3.2, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-04-04 5:38
Viewed: 935
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
These time something completely different. A part of my research in Antarctica was focused on a polychaete fauna of Himantothallus grandifolius holdfasts.


Himantothallus grandifolius (A. Gepp & E.S. Gepp) (synonym: Phyllogigas grandifolius)

It is an endemic to Antarctica member of brown algae (Class: Phaeophyceae, Order: Desmarestiales). It is one of the most common species of makroalgae in Antarctica. It is also one of the biggest. It’s thallus can be very big (up to 25 meters).


Here you can see a hold fast of H. grandifolius. A holdfast is a root-like structure that anchors aquatic seaweed. Hold fasts of H. grandifolius are attached to dropstones – rocks that fall out of icebergs. You can see it in my WS here. The volume of holdfast ranged from 100 to 900 ml. H.g. grandifoilus can be found from 10 to 70 meters depth.

H. grandifolius holdfasts are very interesting habitat for marine invertebrates (mostly for polychaetes and amphipod crustaceans but also other crustaceans, pycnogonids and hydrozoans). On H.g. holdfasts in Admiralty Bay (South Shetland Islands) we can find a big and diverse community of polychaetes (over 80 species). Even 400 specimens of polychaetes can be found on the one single holdfast.

The Polychaeta or polychaetes are a class of annelid worms, generally marine. Each body segment has a pair of fleshy protrusions called parapodia that bear many bristles, called chaetae, which are made of chitin. Polychaeta means "many-bristled"


Holdfasts is like coral reef. It looks like labyrinth with a lot of places to hide. Both of these habitats had great structural complexity. It is a great hideout for invertebrates.

I decided to post one more WS shot here

jazdzurka, fartash, PaulH, Alex99, Silvio2006, boreocypriensis, eqshannon, jcoowanitwong, uleko, haraprasan, ramthakur, goldyrs, SelenE, meyerd, hester has marked this note useful
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To jazdzurka: listacataclysta 1 04-04 05:51
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Critiques [Translate]

Czesc Krzysiu
Widze, ze dzielisz sie na TN swoja praca :)
Bardzo dobre zdjecie ciekawego obiektu. Moze nie nalezy on do tych najbardziej kolorowych i przyciagajacych okko, ale za to niewiele osob zdaje sobie sprawe co tak na prawde zyje na dnie morz.
Szkoda, ze na chwytnikach nie zostaly jeszcze jakies zwierzeta, no ale za to Ty nie odpowiadasz :)
Pozdrawiam
Ania

P.S. Przy okazji przypominam sie z moja prosba ;)

Hello Krzysztof
Very intersting spieces to shoot,
Perfect focusing,lighting and POV.Welldone my friend.

Regards
Fartash

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1059 W: 26 N: 3166] (11377)
  • [2008-04-04 6:14]

Hi Krzysztof,
very interesting and unusual looking algae, the different browns tones are great and you have captured them with sharp detail and excellent clarity, well done.
Paul

Hi very goo details and sharpnes sin your picture here
also very good colours and so close veiw
tfs Toba

Hi Krzysztof, interesting composition and note too,unusual specie I never see before, thanks, excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3139 W: 148 N: 4734] (15295)
  • [2008-04-04 6:37]

Hi Krzysztof.
It is really rare subject and of course unknown for me. You have presented it perfectly with help of original as hot and WS. Without last one I would not understand anything. Excellent colours and brilliant details. My compliments and thanks for so interesting note too.
Alexei.

Hi Krzysztof, my beloved friend!
Very interesting and perfect shot of this brown alg colony! Have nice weeks without me:-). TFS. All the best!
Cheers.
Bayram

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2711 W: 139 N: 7830] (24389)
  • [2008-04-04 8:30]

Hello Krzysztof,
A fine sharp presentation of this marine algal species. I find the word 'holdfast interesting. as far as I remember from my biological studies another name for the the holdfast of a seaweed is 'stype'. A stype is the marine algal equivalent of a root. Of course the word can also be taken in a colonial sense where many of the same species provide a special habitat as mentioned in your note.
Fine unusual posting and thanks for sharing this,
Have a good weekend,
Ivan

I wonder if there are any eatable parts of if they are nutrients or if they have medicinal values...so many questions and I'll bet science really doesn't know any of the answers ....yet..and I hope we survive long enough as a people to find out...Well seen from a remote location!
Bob

Hello Krzysztof,
From thumbnail I thought these are fungus. I was wrong. You are showing a fine close up. Sharp and well exposed image. Very well done.
JC

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2544 W: 170 N: 7738] (24487)
  • [2008-04-04 10:07]

Hello Krzys,
Wow, your research sounds really fascinating! Your note is most interesting and your images both interesting and beautiful. The size of this brown algae sounds very impressive. I'm a bit puzzled, have you been diving in Antarctis or how do you pursue your reaearch?
I like your sharp close-up of these algae showing shapes and colours very well.
Many thanks and have a nice weekend, Ulla

Hi Chris,
A nice capture of these brown algae. Lovely sharp details and a fine composition. I also like the WS where you have shown on what it is holding upon. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1834 W: 243 N: 6032] (21484)
  • [2008-04-05 4:52]

Very nice image of this Algae!
Very good POV giving a diagonal composition which is very effective.
Great clarity and sharpness.
Super brown tones.
Well done!

Joe

Chris, you have shown us something very interesting by way of life forms in the Antarctic region. I did benefit a great deal from your workshops. In fact they were needed in view of the technical descriptions and explanations in your erudite note for a layman like me :-).
All the three shots are technically superb and of very high educational value.
TFS
Ram

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1770 W: 29 N: 5156] (16888)
  • [2008-04-05 9:37]

Hi Krzysztof,
Wonderful shot and you portray something which looks absolutely amazing. Beautiful Y shapes and they look delicate and sticky. Very neat and sharp image with nice colours and details. Superb light and exposure levels and I like your chosen POV to capture this scene. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Krzysztof,
Wow!This is an amazing shot,something I've never seen.And such an enlightening note!
Thank you!
Cheers!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2404 W: 63 N: 3949] (12710)
  • [2008-04-06 7:43]

Hi Krzysztof,
It is really interesting. Details are very good. Thanks for the informative notes
TFS
Greetings,
Selen

  • Great 
  • meyerd Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 64 N: 1206] (3769)
  • [2008-04-07 11:40]

Hi Krzysztof,

excellent, excellent, this shot of a very unusual brown alga that few of us will ever see. I am glad that you tals about your first hand experiences in the Antarctic on TN. The holdfasts are clearly exhibited. Your competent comment makes the picture even more interesting.

Best regards
Dietrich

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1477 W: 18 N: 3013] (11052)
  • [2008-04-21 12:47]

Hi Krzysztof

Wonderful and unusual post. This is wonderfully composed and very detailed. The note is very informative. Great work

TFS

Karan

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-06-15 21:28]

Hello Krzysztof

A lovely macro of this brown algae.
The pov gives it a neat graphic look with visual impact.
Well focused with sharp detail.
TFS

Rob

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