SURFACE LIFE FIELD GUIDE
The Mysterious Ecosystem at the Ocean’s Surface: Guide to Ocean Surface Life!
Here’s how to join:
To Report Marine Life:
1. Keep an eye on the shore and surface for common floating life (field guide below). If you see something, take pictures and upload your observation to the iNaturalist app, or by visiting iNaturalist.org/projects/
2. And if you don’t see floating life? THAT’S GREAT! In order for our study to work, we need observers all over, even places where floating life might not be! So, find a cool organism and report it on iNaturalist.org, and link it to our project. It’s that simple!
To Report Debris:

Porpita
Photo credit: Denis Riek

Velella

Physalia
(Photo credit: Denis Riek)

Actinecta
(Photo credit: Denis Riek)

Dosima fascicularis

Fish
(Photo credit: Songda Cai)

Janthina
The violet snails Janthina construct floating bubble rafts by dipping their body into the air and trapping one bubble at a time, which they then wrap in mucus and stick to their float. Favorite foods of Janthina include Porpita, Velella, Physalia, and sometimes even other Janthina (yikes!). If you find Porpita, Velella, or Physalia, there’s a good chance you’ll find a Janthina nearby!
(Photo credit: Denis Riek)

Glaucus

Floating Algae and Plants
(Photo credit: Rebecca R. Helm)

Cephalopods

Shrimps

Halobate

Copepods

Isopods

Lepas

Anthopleura

Aglaophenia pluma

Other organisms
