Rockpooling destination: North Shetland, September 2014

On exposed shores the salt water spray can reach far up the shore, resulting in an extended splash zone (supralittoral zone), that is characterized by yellow and grey lichens. Terrestrial plants also occur within crevices of the rock.

Habitat classification:

Substrate
Habitat	FLR (Features of littoral rock)
Biotope complex	LR.FLR.Lic (Lichens on supralittoral rock)
Biotope	LR.FLR.Lic.YG Yellow and grey lichens on supralittoral rock

 EUNIS habitat: Yellow and grey lichens on supralittoral rock (code: B3.111)

Below are images of organisms you may encounter in this haitat:

The rocky out crop at the top of the shore, receives enough salt water spray to support a community of lichens and sea pinks.Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Lic.YG Yellow and grey lichens on supralittoral rock

   Yellow, grey and the black lichen Verrucaria maura cover the rock, whilst sea pinks grow in the crevices.

A grey lichen, black shields(Tephromela atra)

 A grey lichen, black shields (Tephromela atra)

The yellow lichen, Xanthoria parietina

   A grey lichen, possible Parelle (Ochrolechia parella)

   A grey lichen, possible Parelle (Ochrolechia parella)

   Grey lichens of the supralittoral

Lichens of the supralittoral

A brown lichen

Common Lichens of the sea shore

Lichens are symbiotic fungi that occur throughout the terrestrial environment and into the intertidal zone where they colonise suitable hard substrates of the upper shore and splash zone.

They are often the defining species of splash zone habitats and come in a variety of forms and colours.

Below are images of the common lichens you may encounter whilst rock pooling around the UK:

  

An orange lichen (Xanthoria parietina).

An orange lichen (Xanthoria parietina).

Black lichen (Lichina pygmaea).

Tar lichen (Verrucaria maura) and an orange lichen.

Tar lichen  (Verrucaria maura) forms a thin black crust over the rock



Above the high tide mark Sea ivory (Ramalina siliquosa) and the orange lichen, Xanthoria parietina occur.

Sea ivory (Ramalina siliquosa)

Sea ivory (Ramalina siliquosa)

Sheep are partial to sea ivory!

Possible Parelle (Ochrolechia parella).



Anaptychia spp.