Rockpooling destination: Dorset April 2017

The rocky shore comprises shelving bedrock that forms a series of ridges that extend into the sea. Fucoids and ephemeral greens lace the ridges, whilst in between, seaweed covered gravel and shingle dominate the channels. 

The rocky shore is comprised of shelving bed rock

Washed up fucoids form a strand line

Seaweeds exhibit zonation across the shore

Ephemeral green seaweeds form patches on the shore 

Barnacles and ephemeral green seaweed 

Fucus serratus and Fucus vesiculosus co-occur on sections of the shore

Beneath which are found understorey seaweeds such as the green seaweed, Cladophora sp, Corallinacea crusts and turf forming red seaweeds.

Fauna and seaweeds beneath the fucoid canopy

Coralline algae are found beneath the fucoid canopy within rockpools.