Papa Stour marine cSAC Intertidal areas |
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1. Wave exposed rock shore
These rocky shores are inhabited by a mixture of lichens, barnacles and mussels. In comparison to sheltered shores the areas covered by lichens can be very wide because of the large areas splashed with spray from breaking waves. On flatter parts of the shore brown wrack seaweeds may grow, including bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) and serrated wrack (Fucus serratus) whilst closer to the waters edge kelps and thongweed are found.
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| 2. Rock pools on wave exposed rock shore
The rock pool communities vary according to position on the shore, with green seaweeds in pools on the high shore and pools on the lower shores with plants such as kelps and coralline algae.
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Close to the low tide mark kelps may be attached to boulders. The upper shores are characterised by lichens, barnacles and in some places green algae. |
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4. Boulder and sand shore Specialised underboulder communities may develop on these shores, but otherwise few plants and animals can be seen. |
The characteristic seaweeds on sheltered rock shores are similar to those found on exposed shores and include lichens and wracks (such as knotted wrack, spiral wrack, bladder wrack and serrated wrack) with kelps on the lower shore. However the communities here tend to occupy a much narrower strip on the shore than in more exposed locations. |
On the upper shore lichens and channel wrack grow on the boulders. This type of wrack has curled fronds which trap moisture and enable it to survive for relatively long periods out of water. Lower down are a mixture of kelps and wracks, including knotted wrack Ascophyllum nodosum in particularly sheltered areas. |
Green algae may grow on the muddy shores. Most of the animals, including many worms live within the muddy sand and cannot be easily seen.
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