Rock Pooling destination: Mallaig, Scotland May 2013

Rock Pooling destination: Mallaig, Scotland May 2013

The rocky shore at Mallaig predominantly comprises bedrock with gullies and pools. Yellow and grey lichens occur at the top of the shore, below which the black lichen Verrucaria maura  and channel wrack occur. The mid shore is dominated by barnacles and a variety of fauna and fucoid seaweeds occur within pools and on the lower shore. Habitat classification: LR.MLR.BF (Barnacles and fucoids on moderately exposed shores).

Below are images of this habitat and organisms you may see whilst rock pooling in it:

The rocky shore at Mallaig. Habitat classification: LR.MLR.BF (Barnacles and fucoids on moderately exposed shores).  Where fresh water run off from a drain enters the shore the green seaweed Entomorpha comes to dominate, replacing channel wrack, and forming the biotope: LR.FLR.Eph.Ent (Entomorpha spp. on fresh water influenced upper eulittoral rock.

The rocky shore at Mallaig. Orange and grey lichens will extend further down the shore where pinnacles attain the same height as the upper shore.Habitat classification: LR.MLR.BF (Barnacles and fucoids on moderately exposed shores).

Channel wrack (Pelvetia canaliculata) gives way to barnacles as you go further down the shore. Habitat classification: LR.MLR.BF (Barnacles and fucoids on moderately exposed shores).

Channel wrack (Pelvetia canaliculata) and periwinkles occur in the upper shore.

Channel wrack (Pelvetia canaliculata) and Limpets (Patella vulgata).

Large 'herds' of edible periwinkle (Littorina littorea) aggregate in the upper shore pools. Habitat classification: LR.FLR. Rkp (Rock pools).

Coralline crusts forms a sparse covering over the rock pool whilst the edible winkle (Littorina littorea) aggregate within crevices. Biotope classificaion: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

A prawn (Palaemon spp). Biotope classificaion: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools)

A prawn (Palaemon spp). Biotope classificaion: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools)

Anemone in a coralline rock pool.  Biotope description:  LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Rough periwinkle (Littorina saxatilis) in a coralline rock pool. Biotope description:  LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Anemones in a coralline rock pool. Biotope description:  LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and  rough periwinkle (Littorina saxatilis) in a coralline rock pool. Biotope description:  LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Pools lower down the shore contain more seaweed species. Biotope description:  LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Green velvet horns (Codium spp) in a coralline rock pool. Biotope description:  LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Barnacles dominate the mid shore below which occurs a band of fucoid seaweeds. Habitat classification: LR.MLR.BF (Barnacles and fucoids on moderately exposed shores).

Barnacles and their predator the dog whelk (Nucella lapillus) on the mid shore. Habitat classification: LR.MLR.BF (Barnacles and fucoids on moderately exposed shores).

Spiral wrack (Fucus spiralis) in the mid shore. Habitat classification: LR.MLR.BF (Barnacles and fucoids on moderately exposed shores).

Rock Pooling Destination: St. Martins, Isles of Scilly, UK. April 2013

On the southern side of St. Martins stretches of the mid to lower shore comprise boulders and cobbles lying on sand or, bed rock.

Fucoid seaweeds dominate the rocky shore habitat, exhibiting zonation, whilst other organisms live and seek refuge amongst the fucoid understory, in crevices, under boulders and within rock pools.

The mosaic of boulders and cobbles on sand or, bedrock provides a variety of micro habitats which in turn enables more organisms to co-exist. For example, the organisms living on top of the boulder will vary to those living underneath.

Rocky shore dominated by fucoid seaweeds.  Biotope classification: LR.LLR.F  Fucoids on sheltered marine shores.

Green seaweed (Entermorpha spp) cover the rocks to form a band above the fucoids. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Eph (Ephemeral green seaweed communities (Sand- influenced).

Spiral wrack (Fucus spiralis). Habitat classification:  

LR.LLR.F.Fspi (Fucus spiralis on sheltered upper eulittoral rock)

Channel wrack (Pelvetia canaliculata)  occurs occasionally within this habitat.

Spiral wrack (Fucus spiralis) and thick topshell (Osilinus lineatus).

Limpet (Patella vulgata)

Rough periwinkle (Littorina spp) and barnacles

Intertidal pools form amongst the serrated wrack (Fucus serratus) of the lower shore. Looking amongst these transitory  pools you can find a variety of fauna.

Flat periwinkle (Littorina obtusata)

Flat topshell (Gibbula umbilicus)

Gem anemone (Aulactinia verrucosa)

Seaspider

Two sea slugs congregate at the base of  seaweed on the lower shore.

Sea slug

The red seaweeds, Lomentaria articulata and Osmundea spp with Serrated wrack (Fucus serratus) on the lower shore.

Ascidiacea

Limpet (Patella vulgata) covered by an encrusting red algae.

Serrated wrack (Fucus serraus), Bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) and Egg wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) with epiphytic polysiphonia form a canopy above the boulders that support limpets (Patella vulgata) and thick topshells (Osillnus lineatus).  Habitat classification: LR.LLR.F  Fucoids on sheltered marine shores.

Below the boulders in this section of the lower shore are under boulder communities- The following photos demonstrate the variety of fauna found beneath this one boulder.

A closer look at the under boulder community shown in the previous photo reveals Grey topshells (Gibbula cineraria) and spiorbid polychaete wormtubes.

Cushionstar (Asterina gibbosa), Seasquirts (Ascideacea), Painted topshell (Calliostoma zizyphinum), Bryozoa, Broad clawed porcelain crab (Porcellana platycheles) and spiorbid worm tubes form part of the under boulder community.

A scale worm also forms part of the under boulder community.

A worm pipefish (Nerophis lumbriciformis) lies motionless below the boulder.

The edges of boulders that experience fast currents support a filter feeding assemblage of  sea squirts (Ascideacea).

A solitary sea squirt (Ascideacea).

A serpulid worm.

An ophuroidea.

Risso's crab (Xantho pilipes)

A scorpian fish lays motionless.

A scorpian fish

A worm pipefish (Nerophis lumbriciformis) is motionless amongst the weed.

A worm pipefish (Nerophis lumbriciformis)

A rockling

A rockling

A goby