When you look up Mermaid's Wine Glass (Acetabularia crenulata), you get very short entries.
I suppose either Mermaid's Wine Glass (MWG) is a very boring algae ... or, we just don't know it's secrets.
I know this, it covers the shallow bottom of much of Hagen's Cove. The clear shallow water allows lots of light to penetrate so MWG can do it's photosynthetic magic.
It needs a place to perch, ... any old shell will do. Each little clump in the cove seemed to have an ancient scallop shell anchoring it to the sand.
On the day I found this little clump, I wasn't prepared to bring some back to my lab aquariums, but now that school is starting, I need to make another trip up to the cove ... oh darn.
The little black drum, killifish, mollies, and sheepshead minnows I collected earlier in the summer are doing great in the big community tank in my lab. They have adjusted to store bought food, but every once in a while I pop a frozen clam out of the freezer, thaw it, and dice it up for them.
If fish could smile, they would. They go nuts over clams.
One of the cool things I learned at that aquaculture training at Harbor Branch was how to make that really expensive (in the pet store) refrigerated soft fish food.
So they don't know it yet, but the fish are gonna get some gourmet home "cooking" soon.
... and my student's don't know it yet, but they are gonna do the "cooking".
***DON'T FORGET, IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE PEANUTTY CULINARY THROWDOWN, TOMORROW IS THE DAY TO POST YOUR GOODIES. THEN BE SURE TO DROP BY HERE AND TELL US YOU ARE UP!
10 comments:
We learn something every day here, which is part of what make stopping by so interesting...and we clearly have lots to look forward to.
I guess I'll be looks for Mermaid's Wineglass next time out on the boat.
www.riverwildlife.blogspot.com
I'd set up an aquarium just for cool plants like that, never mind the fish!
Gotcha on the water lettuce, but it was the only close-up of a great egret I had at hand.
That is really neat looking stuff! I agree with threecollie! I love coming here and learning something new everyday! THANK YOU!
Just caught ALL the way up. Such a pleasure unwinding over here. The new chicks are darling. Rafting looks like a blast. The JEEP- I believe cash for clunkers ends tomorrow so hurry...no,no,no, I don't really mean that. The Escape maybe...
The juice and MWG- that reminds me, it's that time of day when a glass of wine would be good. In Michigan, we canned grape juice every year- without sugar- many quarts of it to last through the winter. Cheers!
those are nifty looking little plants? algae? whatever.
Well there you go teaching me again!
I've never heard the name Mermaid's wineglass and Acetabularia has long been my favorite algae!
Are you going to use agar as a binder for your fish pops?
OK, I posted the culinary challenge!
I haven't seen any of that beauty in quite a while. Not sure it occurs way up here. I'll have to look harder... or day trip down to the cove myownself.
Can you believe we have the windows open? In August?! It's in the 60's tonight! Almost as good as a cooling dip in the Gulf.
ThreeCollie,
Thanks! I thought I'd have more salty posts this summer, but the boat motor has terminal issues.
Carol,
Clear, salty water is all you need. The flats on the gulf coast or the indian river flats should be good places.
Caroline,
Glad you don't have water lettuce, it's a bit of a problem plant down here. This is a cool algae isn't it?
Lisa,
THANK YOU for dropping in! My posts may be a bit shorter this week with school starting!
Vicki,
Hey! Thanks for taking the time to peruse all those posts! The Escape has a new home, but the JEEP is a forever vehicle my dear.
I hope you have continued to heal quickly and well.
Ericka,
Nifty is right. Pretty odd shape and all, but it works!
ThunderD,
Allright! You should earn the early bird special award.
Sophie,
I was out with Bear this morning and the air was pretty sweetly cool. Dare we hope for an early fall? If St. Joe Bay is closer, it should have this algae growing too.
Post a Comment