Characterizing species of the upper eulittoal shore

The upper eulittoral shore hosts species that can with stand exposure to the atmosphere, many have adaptations to reduce water loss. Lichens are tough and barnacles and limpets occur in close proximity to create cooler, damper micro climates.

The communities you find on the upper eulittoral shore will differ depending on the wave exposure.

Below are images of characterizing species of the upper eulittoral shore:

Fucus spiralis occurs on sheltered to moderately exposed shores

On more exposed shores barnacles and shallow coralline rockpools occur.

Lichina pygmaea and small periwinkles (Melarhaphe neritoides) occur among the barnacles on South West shores.

Mytilus edulis also occur in low numbers

Often seaweeds from the sublittoral are washed up onto the upper eulittoral shore.

In summer porphyra sp can cover upper eulittoral shore rock.

Rockpooling destination: Dorset April 2017

The rocky shore comprises shelving bedrock that forms a series of ridges that extend into the sea. Fucoids and ephemeral greens lace the ridges, whilst in between, seaweed covered gravel and shingle dominate the channels. 

The rocky shore is comprised of shelving bed rock

Washed up fucoids form a strand line

Seaweeds exhibit zonation across the shore

Ephemeral green seaweeds form patches on the shore 

Barnacles and ephemeral green seaweed 

Fucus serratus and Fucus vesiculosus co-occur on sections of the shore

Beneath which are found understorey seaweeds such as the green seaweed, Cladophora sp, Corallinacea crusts and turf forming red seaweeds.

Fauna and seaweeds beneath the fucoid canopy

Coralline algae are found beneath the fucoid canopy within rockpools.