Rockpooling destination: South-west Shetland, September 2014

The large South-Westerly facing sandy bay is flanked by rocky headlands and is relatively barren of life. That which does occur is concentrated around the strandline.

Habitat classification:

Substrate	LS (Littoral substrate)
Habitat	LS.LSa (Littoral sand)
Biotope complex	LS.LSa.Mo.Sa(Barren and amphipod dominated mobile sand shores)	LS.LSa.St (Strandline)
Biotope:		LS.Lsa.St.Tal (Talitrids on the upper shore and strand-line)

Below are images of some of the organisms you may encounter in this habitat:

   The shore is comprised of mobile barren sand with strandlines at the successive tide marks. Habitat classification: LS.LSa.Mo.Sa(Barren and amphipod dominated mobile sand shores) and LS.LSa.St (Strandline).

    Clean mobile sand with amphipod burrows extend over vast expanses of the shore. Habitat classification: LS.LSa.Mo.Sa(Barren and amphipod dominated mobile sand shores).

    During the autumn migration many wades come to feed on sandy shores and amongst strandlines. Here the evidence of such feeding can be seen.

Fresh seaweed and jelly fish are washed up to form the strandline, among which the burrows of talitrids occur. Habitat classification: LS.Lsa.St.Tal (Talitrids on the upper shore and strand-line).

Jelly fish are washed up in the strandline during the summer months.

Strong waves wash up kelp (Laminaria sp) from the subtidal; on the kelps stipe and holdfast is a community of epiphytic organisms, including bivalves, red seaweeds, bryozoans and polychaetes.

Laminaria sp with a stipe covered by a variety of red seaweeds.

Laminaria sp with a stipe covered by a variety of red seaweeds and bryozoans.

Furbellows (Saccorhiza polyschides)

Sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima)

Thong weed (Himanthalia elongata)

Egg wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) covered in bryozoa, blue common mussels (Mytilus edulis).

Egg wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) covered in bryozoa, blue common mussels (Mytilus edulis).

Egg wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) covered in bryozoa, blue common mussels (Mytilus edulis).

Egg wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) covered in bryozoa.

Egg wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) covered in bryozoan with a goose barnacle.

Common Seaweeds of the Shore- Kelps

Kelps include some the largest seaweed species.  Predominantly subtidal they can form underwater forests and are recognized by their long flexible stipe, flat frond and large holdfast. 

Below are images of kelps you may encounter at the low water mark and whilst snorkeling in the shallow subtidal around the UK:

Laminaria including Laminaria digitata , Laminaria hyperborea and Laminaria ochroleuca are the typical 'kelps'. They have a holdfast, stipe and a large flat frond that is divided into strips. Laminaria occur from the low water mark into the subtidal.

Laminaria in the subtidal.

Many species can be found within the hold fast of Lamiaria species, including the blue rayed limpet Patella pellucida.

The blue rayed limpet Patella pellucida within the holdfast.

Patella pellucida graze on the fronds.

Many species can be found within the hold fast of Lamiaria species, including Oysters (Anomiidae) and Starfish (Henricia oculata).

Saccorhiza polyschides is recognizable by the folds on the stipe close to the holdfast and occurs subtidally.

Dabberlocks (Alaria esculenta) Awaiting image

Bootlace weed (Chorda filum) Awaiting image

Sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) Awaiting image