Rockpooling destination: Shetland September 2014

The shore comprises a small sheltered bay of cobbles and pebbles into which a river flows. A quay provides a further anthropogenic hard substrate.

Habitat classification:

Substrate	LR (Littoral rock)
Habitat	LLR (Low energy littoral rock)	LR.FLR (Features of ilttoral rock)
Biotope complex	LR.LLR.F (Fucoids on sheltered marine shores)	LR.FLR.Eph (Ephemeral green or red seaweed communities
Biotope		LR.FLR.Eph (Ephermeral green or red seaweeds (Fresh water or sand influenced)

Below are images of organisms that you may encounter whilst rockpooling in these habitats:

The rocky shore is comprised of cobbles and pebbles. The swathe of green marks where ephermeral green seaweeds grow under the influences of the fresh water influx from the river. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Eph (Ephermeral green or red seaweeds (Fresh water or sand influenced).

Ephermeral green seaweed - 'Gut weed' (Ulva sp formally Entomorpha sp ) grows prolifically on the shore where there is fresh water influence.

Barnacles grow on the quay side.

Barnacles and  Gut weed (grow on the quay side.

Pebbles and shell fragments make up the substrate in the middle of the bay.

Beyond the bay are fish farms that are marked by bouys that become covered in mussels, which is turn are scraped off and end up as part of the substrate of the bay.