Students in Oceanography class explored a kelp holdfast to discover the types of animals that live there.

Giant kelp is not a plant but is an algae that grows rapidly.  Instead of roots it attaches to the seafloor with a structure called the holdfast.  The kelp holdfast is home and hiding place for many invertebrate animals.

 Brittle stars, shrimp, clams, whelks, tube worms, polychaete worms and many more animals were discovered in the kelp holdfast.