https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/203527896
I found what I believe to be Balanus glandula (Commonly referred to as the North American Acorn Barnacle) while I was on a walk at Sandy Beach in Juneau. There are countless amounts of these little organisms and I have seen them every single time I have gone anywhere near the water in my town. These little creatures are ubiquitous with the ocean and large marine mammals across the pacific coast (Monetary Bay Aquarium (2014, August 27). Meet the Acorn Barnacle). Although these little guys are usually inactive when you can see them above water, when the tide rises they open their little shells and extend feather like appendages to grab at microscopic organisms and decaying sea life that is floating through their area. They may not seem like anything too fascinating but they are one of the basic building blocks of the oceanic and intertidal food chains often being eaten by crabs, whelks, and other smaller intertidal creatures (Laverdure, J. (2016, November 14). Marine Animals of the Rocky Intertidal Zones) . These little organisms are surprisingly interesting and integral to the oceanic and intertidal ecosystems as a whole. I have many memories from when I was younger, walking around the rocky beaches in Juneau, of me bending down to look at the clusters of barnacles on the rocks, and looking at some in tidal pools with their feathered appendages out floating in the water and being fascinated. Overall these are some surprisingly interesting little creatures.
Monetary Bay Aquarium (2014, August 27). Meet the Acorn Barnacle. Retrieved March 22, 2024, from https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/acorn-barnacle
Laverdure, J. (2016, November 14). Marine Animals of the Rocky Intertidal Zones. NOAA.gov. Retrieved March 22, 2024, from https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/Intertidal%20Zone%20Animals%20Field%20Guide%201.pdf
Comments
Hi Jack,
Barnacles are such neat organisms, aren't they? I recently saw an episode of a travel/cooking show at my grandparent's home that showcased people preparing barnacles as food. I had never seen that done before! When I was a child, I can vividly remember getting the nastiest knee scrapes/injuries from slipping and landing on my knees on barnacle and algae covered rocks at the beach--ouch! They are sharp little suckers.
I thought that it was great that you included the information about them eating the microscopic organisms. I knew that they opened and closed but had no idea about the feathery appendages grabbing organisms like that.
I'm not much for eating filter feeders like barnacles or clams, but many people love to eat clams and they are considered a "rich" person’s food in many places. It makes sense that similar filter feeders such as barnacles and muscles would also be seen as a type of food that literally cannot run away. It is worth mentioning however that they are not easy to remove from the surface they have chosen to cling to, with a type of natural cement, they are immensely hard to pry from their home in the intertidal zone (Hogge). Their shell is grown around them and as they get larger they molt the shell when it is not large enough anymore to grow a larger one (Hogge).
Works Cited
Hogge, Katie. "What's the deal with Barnacles?" Ocean Conservancy. 28 Dec. 2023. https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2023/12/28/whats-with-barnacles/. Accessed 24 Mar. 2024.
That's really cool! I've always found barnacles like Balanus glandula fascinating too, I may or may not have seen them specifically for the same species though but I have seen numerous barnacles around auke bay the abundance of species there is just crazy! They're so unassuming, but they play such a vital role in the marine ecosystem. It's amazing how they can just open up and filter-feed when the tide comes in. I've read that they're pretty tough creatures too, able to withstand harsh conditions and cling on to rocks with incredible strength.
It's great that you have those memories from your childhood, exploring the rocky beaches and discovering the little wonders of the inter tidal zone. It's those kinds of experiences that really foster a love and appreciation for nature, don't you think? Plus, barnacles are a favorite food for some marine animals, so they're an essential part of the food web. Have you ever observed any other interesting marine life around Juneau? I only ask because I'm down there most of the weekends and it'd be cool to see something aquatic since the summer is kicking in .
Thanks for sharing barnacles with us, Jack! They are a favorite beachside inhabitant of mine. You mention that when you see them above water you won't see them moving, but next time you go to a beach at low tide, pause and listen. If you're near some barnacle-covered rocks, you should hear an ever-present scraping sound. Some of the barnacles rotate within their shell homes, and you can hear the movement, as well as see it if you squat down and watch for a while! It's pretty fun to see, and the sound is a reminder of how you are surrounded at all times by other living things that are like you -- just living out their lives in our shared world.
Please note that you are not using MLA format correctly! Both your in-text citations and your Works Cited entries are incorrect. You may want to email me about this.
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