Things to Do, Destinations
and General Information
Life in the Pile Fields
Pile fields are a key element of the estuarine sanctuary. Instead of removing these wooden elements, which once functioned to support piers, the Hudson River Park Trust has committed to retaining the piles to provide habitat for various fish species. Many fish including juvenile Striped Bass take shelter in the piles, and sessile organisms -- those that live in one spot for their entire lives -- are particularly common.
Barnacles
Balanus sp
These ever-present crustaceans use feathery feet to filter meals of plankton. Barnacles can be easily spotted when the tide is low and they are exposed to air. Barnacles must stay closed up tight to avoid drying out before the tide returns.
Shipworms
Teredo sp.
The shipworm Teredo is not actually a worm at all; it is a mollusk. It is related to clams, oysters and snails. These creatures excavate holes in wood and actually eat the sawdust. Over time, this feeding habit results in the deterioration of the piles. Shipworms are increasing in the Hudson River as water quality improves.
Sea Grapes
The sea grape is a type of animal known as a tunicate. As larvae (young animals), tunicates swim and resemble tadpoles. They then undergo a dramatic metamorphosis into a sessile, blob-like organisms. Sea grapes sometimes get caught during Big City Fishing when enthusiastic anglers accidentally “hook” pilings.
© 2010 Hudson River Park Trust • All rights reserved
Hudson River Park Trust • 353 West St. (at W.Houston St.), Pier 40, 2nd floor, NY, NY 10014
EMAIL • phone: 212-627-2020 • fax: 212-627-2021
