The shore at Seapalling
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.
The hard substrate is
characterised by a barnacle community with periwinkles, limpets, dog whelks and
beadlet anemones. The lower edges of the breakwater harbour occasional
seaweeds, whilst beneath the sea defences are a network of tidal pools.
Since February certain features of the shore
have changed, namely reduced strandline, decreased sand height and increased ephemeral
algae.
Habitat classifications:
Substrate
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LR (Littoral rock)
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LS (Littoral substrate)
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Habitat
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HLR (High energy littoral rock)
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FLR (Features of littoral rock)
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LS.LSa (Littoral sand)
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Biotope complex
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LR.HLR. MusB (Mussel and/or barnacle
communities)
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Rkp (Rockpools)
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Eph.FLR.Eph (Ephemeral green or red
seaweed communities
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LS.LSa.sh (Shingle and gravel shores)
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LS.LSa.MoSa.BarSa (Barren littoral
coarse sand)
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Biotope
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LR.FLR.Eph.EntPor (Porphyra purpurea
and Entomorpha spp. on sand scoured lower eulittoral rock)
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Below are images of organisms you may see whilst rock pooling in this location:
The same location as above but a few months previous shows how the sediment distributions have changed since February. |
Variability in barnacle size gives an indication of the changing availability of substrate on the shore. Smaller, younger barnacles mark out those areas previously under sand. |
The white tests of dead barnacles mark a previous height of the sand. |
Spiral wrack (Fucus spiralis) has experienced regrowth since February (see image below).
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Porphyra spp. occur on the sand scoured lower shore rocks. |
This photo from February shows the same rock pool full of sand. |
A beadlet anemone (Actina equina) within its tentacles out within a rock pool. |
A beadlet anemone (Actina equina) within its tentacles withdrawn to conserve water whilst exposed to the drying air. |
A common star fish (Asterias rubens) |