Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Marine Botany

Pugetia fragilissima & Pugetia firma

Distribution

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION

Species of Pugetia are found all around the world. Scroll over the world map to see what Pugetia Species are found where!

Location:


Species:

This map is only a preliminary record of the global distribution of Pugetia.
If you know of a species that should be added, please email me and I will make sure to research it!
laurek@stanford.edu
WEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA

 

Upwelling along the west coast of North America produces nutrient rich waters, in which both Pugetia fragilissima and Pugetia firma thrive. Pugetia fragilissima grows subtidally from British Columbia to Southern California. Pugetia firma can be found intertidally from Northern British Columbia to Monterey Peninsula and subtidally from Prince William Sound, Alaska to Punto Santo Thomas, Baja California, Mexico. One possible explanation for the limited southern range of intertidal Pugetia firma is the increasing temperature and threat of desiccation at lower latitudes. In addition to Pugetia fragilissima and Pugetia firma, another species, Pugetia mexicana, can be found along the West coast of North America. It has a range from Baja California, Mexico to Chile.

WITHIN MONTEREY BAY
The water surrounding Monterey Peninsula is some of the most productive in the world. Although giant kelp (Macrocystis) dominates the subtidal fauna, the smaller red algae, such as Pugetia, proliferate in a wide range of habitats throughout Monterey and Carmel. Both Pugetia firma and Pugetia fragilissima have established themselves along the entire coastline of the Monterey Peninsula and have been observed alive, as drift, and by dredging. Distribution information comes from both the samples in the G.M. Smith Herbarium at Hopkins Marine Station and from personal observation both intertidally and subtidally throughout the area. Between these two data sources, it is clear that both Pugetia firma and Pugetia fragilissima have occupied the bay for at least the last fifty years. Although both Pugetia fragilissima and Pugetia firma were consistently identified subtidally, Pugetia fragilissima was slightly more common offshore, growing on tubeworms in sandy substratum near rocky or artificial reefs. The Monterey Peninsula marks the southern border for intertidal Pugetia firma. In 1961, Isabella Abbott collected a small sample of Pugetia firma during low tide at Carmel Beach. For now, this sample appears to delineate Pugetia firma’s intertidal southern limit, however, a recent survey past Carmel might reveal an extended or reduced range. While observing for this study, Pugetia firma was only located intertidally at Pt. Pinos and Asilomar beach and only one specimen was seen at each of these two sites.

For the Complete listings of Pugetia in the G.M. Smith Herbarium, please click: HERBARIUM

© 2005 Laure Sierra Katz.
You are welcome to use any of my images.
If you have any questions, comments or happy ocean stories
please email me at laurek@stanford.edu

Last updated: Oct. 21, 2005