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 of the breakwater is characterised by a barnacle community with periwinkles, limpets, dog whelks and beadlet anemones. Sheltered areas of the lower breakwater support seaweeds, whilst beneath the sea defenses there are a network of tidal pools.
The hard substrate of the dune defenses, positioned within the sheltered bays, is charecterised by a community of spiral wrack, ephemeral algae and occasional barnacles.
The hard substrate of the dune defenses, positioned within the sheltered bays, is charecterised by a community of spiral wrack, ephemeral algae and occasional barnacles.
Since July, 2014 certain features of the shore have changed, namely algae die back of ephemeral and fucoids.
Habitat classifications:
Substrate
|
LR (Littoral rock)
|
LS (Littoral substrate)
|
||||
Habitat
|
HLR (High energy littoral rock)
|
LMR (Moderate energy littoral rock)
|
FLR (Features of littoral rock)
|
LS.LSa (Littoral sand)
|
||
Biotope complex
|
LR.HLR. MusB (Mussel and/or barnacle communities)
|
BF (Barnacles and fucoids on moderately exposed
shores)
|
FLR.Rkp
(Rockpools)
|
LS.LSa.MoSa.BarSa (Barren littoral coarse sand)
|
||
Biotope
|
LR.MLR.BF.FspiB (Fucus spiralis on
full salinity exposed to moderately exposed upper eulittoral rock)
|
|||||
Below are images of organisms you may see whilst rock pooling in this location:
 |
| The sea defences as Seapalling. Habitat classification: LS.LSa.MoSa.BarSa (Barren littoral coarse sand). EUNIS: A2.22 and LR.HLR.MusB (Mussel and/or barnacle communities) . EUNIS A1.11. |
 |
In addition to the offshore breakers, anthropogenic hard substrate have been positioned at the base of the sand dunes. This provides a surface upon which seaweeds and occasional barnacles have settled. Conditions are more sheltered allowing bands of Spiral wrack to form (Fucus spiralis). Habitat classification: LR.MLR.BF.FspiB (Fucus spiralis on full salinity exposed to moderately exposed upper eulittoral rock). EUNIS: A1.212.
|
 |
| Spiral wrack (Fucus spiralis), exhibiting seasonal die back. |
 |
| Barnacles |
 |
| The littoral sediments surrounding the sea defences continually experience the dynamic forces of erosion and deposition. At this time course sediments are distributed at the base of the defenses. Habitat classification: LR.HLR. MusB (Mussel and/or barnacle communities). EUNIS: A1.11. |
 |
| The sediments are similar to those observed in July, 2014 except for decreased razor shells. |
 |
| Barnacles, Periwinkles and Limpets characterise the upper shore sea defences. |
 |
| Juvenile Edible periwinkles (Littorina littoria) seek refuge among the barnacle tests. |
 |
| A limpet and barnacles |
 |
| Barnacles and juvenile Edible periwinkles, Littorina littoera |
 |
| Juvenile Edible periwinkles, Littorina littoera. High densities of juveniles are observed, yet no adults. This may be because the environment is not suitable to enable full development through to adulthood. |
 |
| Barnacles and Porphyra sp. |
 |
| Barnacles, Limpets and beneath the overhang, Dog whelks (Nucella lapillus). |
 |
| Ephemeral green algae. |
 |
| A small rockpool within the sea defences. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp (Rockpools). EUNIS: A1.41. |
No comments:
Post a Comment