Rockpooling destination: Sea Palling July 2013

The shore at Sea Palling is influenced by a series of artificial sea defences that have changed the dynamics of the shore to produce multiple bays comprised of mobile sands with shingle berms in between.

Since March (Blog post 15^th April) certain features of the shore have changed, namely reduced strandline, increased ephemeral algae and the seasonal presence of certain species.

Habitat classifications:

Substrate	LR (Littoral rock)		LS (Littoral substrate)
Habitat	HLR (High energy littoral rock)	LR.FLR (Features of littoral rock)	LS.LSa (Littoral sand)
Biotope complex	LR.HLR. MusB (Mussel and/or barnacle communities)	LR..FLR.Eph (Ephemeral green or red seaweed communities	LS.LSa.sh (Shingle and gravel shores)	LS.LSa.St (Strandline)	LS.LSa.MoSa.BarSa (Barren littoral coarse sand)
Biotope		LR.FLR.Eph.EntPor (Porphyra purpurea and Entomorpha spp. on sand scoured lower eulittoral rock)

Below are images of some of the organisms you may encounter whilst rock pooling in these habitats:

The sea defences provide a hard substrate amongst the littoral sediments of the shore. Habitat classification: LR.HLR (High energy littoral rock) and LS.Sa (Littoral sand).

The strandline is predominantly comprised of the remnants of razor shells and wood and is less extensive then in March. Habitat description: LS.LSa.St (Strandline).

During the summer months sea gooseberries(Pleurobrachia pileus) become stranded on the shore. 

A cuttlefish had become trapped within a tidal pool.

The sea defences comprise large rectangular boulders that have relatively shear faces. A shingle topped berm extends out to the sea defences. Habitat classification: LR.HLR (High energy littoral rock) and LS.LSa.sh (Shingle and gravel shores).

Barnacles and the periwinkle (Littorina spp) on the upper shore.  Habitat classification: LR.HLR.MusB (Mussels and/or barnacles in high energy littoral rock).

Barnacles and the common limpet (Patella vulgata). Habitat classification: LR.HLR.MusB (Mussels and/or barnacles in high energy littoral rock).

Since March the spiral wrack (Fucus spiralis) has come into its reproductive phase and ephemeral green algae has colonised more areas of the shore. Habitat classification: LR.HLR.MusB (Mussels and/or barnacles in high energy littoral rock).

Sand ephermeral green and red seaweeds on the lower shore. Porphyra characterises the biotope LR.FLR.Eph.EntPor (Porphyra purpurea and Entomorpha spp. on sand scoured lower eulittoral rock).

Beadlet anemones (Actinia equina) in a rockpool. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rckp (Rockpools).

Common star fish (Asterias rubens) still occur in the rock pools beneath the sea defences. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rckp (Rockpools).

Rockpooling destination:Near Mallaig, Scotland, May 2013

The shore comprises a small sandy bay with a cobble upper shore flanked by steep outcrops of bedrock and boulders, amongst which rockpools occur.

Habitat classifications: 

Substrate	LR (Littoral rock)		LS (Littoral substrate)
Habitat	HLR (High energy littoral rock)	FLR (Features of littoral rock)	LS.LSa (Littoral sand)
Biotope complex	LR.HLR. MusB (Mussel and/or barnacle communities)	Rkp (Rockpools)	LS.LSa.sh (Shingle and gravel shores)	LS.LSa.St (Strandline)
Biotope		LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools)

The shore. Habitat classification: LS.LSa (Littoral sand), LS.LSa.sh (Shingle and gravel shores) and LR.HLR. MusB (Mussel and/or barnacle communities).

Cobbles and pebbles comprise the substrate of the upper shore. Due to their mobile and porous  nature this is a species poor area of the shore. Habitat classification: LS.LSa.sh (Shingle and gravel shores).

Where a strand line forms fauna may be found as it provides a source of food and shelter from desiccation. Habitat classification: LS.LSa.St (Strandline) surrounded by LS.LSa.sh (Shingle and gravel shores).

Turning over the crisp seaweed within the strand line reveals a damp and moist environment where amphipods and terrestrial insects occur. Habitat classification: LS.LSa.St (Strandline).

The occasional wrack (Fucus spp) grows on the larger more stable boulders. Habitat classification: LS.LSa.sh (Shingle and gravel shores).

The ephemeral green algae Entomorpha spp. occurs where fresh water influx influences the shore during the spring/summer when the substrate becomes more stable. Habitat classification:  LS.LSa.sh (Shingle and gravel shores).

Entomorpha spp. Habitat classification:  LS.LSa.sh (Shingle and gravel shores).

The bedrock and boulders that flank the bay and extend around the coast are covered in barnacles and hold a number of varying sized rockpools. Habitat classifications: LR.HLR. MusB (Mussel and/or barnacle communities).

A coralline crust covered pool with limpets (Patella spp) and snakelocks anemones (Anemonia viridis). Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Coralline pool with limpets (Patella spp), Uvla spp. and snakelocks anemones (Anemonia viridis). Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Coralline pool with limpets (Patella spp), grey topshell (Gibbula cineraria), and open and closed snakelocks anemones (Anemonia viridis). Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Coralline pool with daisy anemones (Cereus pedunculatus). Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

A serpulid worm in a coralline rockpool. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Coral weed (Corallina officinalis) in a coralline rock pool. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Coral weed (Corallina officinalis). A close up of the frond shows the white tips of new growth. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools

A china limpet (Patella ulyssiponensis). The tide had recently receded so that many limpets were still returning to their ‘scars’. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Two china limpet (Patella ulyssiponensis). Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Two limpets interacting; often limpets will slam the edges of their shells down on one another in such interactions. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

china limpet (Patella ulyssiponensis) on its way and covered in epifauna including coralline crust, brown algae and spirorbid worms.  Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

A small community algae, escape limpet predation by growing on its shell! Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Coralline crust has completely engulfed this limpet. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Coralline pool with beadlet anemone (Actinia equina), daisy anemones (Cereus pedunculatus), edible periwinkles (Littorina littorea), flat topshell (Gibbula umbilicus), limpet (Patella spp) and a blenny. The blenny lies perfectly still relying upon its camouflage to stay undetected.  Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Edible periwinkles (Littorina littorea), beadlet anemone (Actinia equina) and Coral weed (Corallina officinalis) in a coralline pool. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools).

Rock pooling destination: Behind the harbour Cafe on Eigg, May 2013

The shore comprises a bedrock platform that drops off towards the low tide mark and contains a number of rock pools.

Lichens occur in the splash zone and extend into the upper shore with channel wrack and periwinkles. The mid to lower shore is covered by a patch work of fucoids and barnacles. Rock pools occur across the shore, with species diversity increasing as you near the low tide mark.

Habitat classifications: 

Substrate	LR (Littoral rock)
Habitat	MLR (Moderate energy littoral rock)		FLR (Features of ilttoral rock)
Biotope complex	BF (Barnacles and fucoids on moderately exposed shores)		Rkp (Rockpools)		LR.FLR.Lic (Lichens or small green algae on supralittoral rock)
Biotope	LR.LMR.BF       (Pelvetia canaliculata and barnacles on moderately exposed shores)	LR.MLR.BF.FspiB (Fucus spiralis on full salinity exposed to moderately exposed upper eulittoral rock)	LR.FLR.Rkp.G        (Green seaweeds (Entomorpha spp. and Cladophora spp.) in shallow upper shore rock pools)	LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools)	LR.FLR.Lic.Ver (Verrucaria Maura on littoral fringe rock)

Below are images of some of the organisms you may encounter whilst rock pooling in these habitats:

The rocky shore at Eigg. Habitat classifications: LR.FLR.Lic (Lichens or small green algae on supralittoral rock), LR.MLR.BF (Barnacles and fucoids on moderately exposed shores) and LR.FLR.Rkp (Rock pools).

A rock pool in the upper shore is dominated by Entomorpha spp. Entomorpha spp. characterises the biotope LR.FLR.Rkp.G (Green seaweeds (Entomorpha spp. and cladophora spp. in shallow upper shore rock pools.) that occurs within the broader biotope complex LR.FLR.Rkp (Rockpools). The black lichen Verrucaria maura covers the surrounding rocks and characterises the biotope  LR.FLR.Lic.Ver (Verrucaria Maura on littoral fringe rock) that occurs within the broader biotope complex of LR.FLR.Lic (Lichens or small green algae on supralittoral rock).

Small periwinkles (Melarhaphe neritoides) seek shelter from desiccation within a crevice on the upper shore. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Lic.Ver (Verrucaria Maura on littoral fringe rock).

The periwinkles, Littorina saxatilis and Melarhaphe neritoides) with Channel wrack (Pelvetia canaliculata)on the upper shore. Pelvetia canaliculata characterises the biotope LR.LMR.BF (Pelvetia canaliculata and barnacles on moderately exposed shores) that occurs within the broader biotope complex of LR.MLR.BF (Barnacles and fucoids on moderately exposed shores). The band of channel wrack delimits the upper extent of the biotope complex.

Channel wrack (Pelvetia canaliculata) and spiral wrack (Fucus spiralis) on the upper shore. Habitat classification: LR.LMR.BF (Pelvetia canaliculata and barnacles on moderately exposed shores).

The periwinkles, Littorina saxatilis and Melarhaphe neritoides) seek refuge in a rock pool of the upper shore. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp (Rockpools).

Rough periwinkles (Littorina saxatilis) and Entomorpha spp. in a pool. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp (Rockpools).

A shallow rock pool edges by clumps of spiral wrack (Fucus spiralis). Fucus spiralis characterises the biotope LR.MLR.BF.FspiB (Fucus spiralis on full salinity exposed to moderately exposed upper eulittoral rock) that occurs within the broader biotope complex of LR.MLR.BF (Barnacles and fucoids on moderately exposed shores). The rock pool itself holds a few patches of coralline crust and green algae. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp (Rockpools).

Seaweed deposited by wave action fills a rockpool; as the seaweed decomposes and using the available oxygen within the pool it can, over time, become stagnant. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp (Rockpools)

Spiral wrack (Fucus spiralis) has a patchy distribution interspersed with barnacles and rock pools. Habitat classification: LR.MLR.BF.FspiB (Fucus spiralis on full salinity exposed to moderately exposed upper eulittoral rock) and LR.FLR.Rkp (Rockpools).

Coralline crust extends over the bottom of the rock pool together with clumps of green algae, while spiral wrack (Fucus spiralis) edges the rock pool. Coralline crusts characterises the biotope LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools) that occurs within the broader biotope complex LR.FLR.Rkp (Rock pools).

A coralline crust dominated pool, with coral weed (Corallina officinalis), beadlet anemones (Actinia equina),  limpets (Patella sp), Topshells (Gibbula spp.), barnacles, the red seaweeds Osmundea spp and green seaweeds. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools). Surrounding the pool is a mosaic of barnacles and spiral wrack (Fucus spiralis). Habitat classification: LR.MLR.BF.FspiB (Fucus spiralis on full salinity exposed to moderately exposed upper eulittoral rock).