Cumbria Sea Fisheries Committee

Shore survey 2006

Part 2 – The South Cumbrian coast

Jane Lancaster

27th March 2007

St Bees

The rocky shore just to the north of St Bees Head comprises of red sandstone wave cut platforms and large boulders piled against cliffs (figure 32). This area of true rocky shore is one of the most exposed shores on the Cumbrian coast.

At this site, on the cliffs above the extreme high water mark, there is a well developed splash zone where a diverse lichen community can be found, including dense patches of the delicate white sea ivory (Ramalina siliquosa). This year the upper shore was particularly slippery due to an accumulation of sediment (fine silt) and patches of gutweed. There were also patches of egg and spiral wrack on boulders and rocks and a proliferation of the green pool algaeCladophora rupestris was also found around the edges of upper shore rock pools.

Spiral and egg wrack were also found in the upper mid shore, particularly in the gaps between boulders, while the surfaces of rock were dominated by barnacles, with smaller numbers of limpets and beadlet anemones. Further down the mid shore the fucoid algaes were replaced by mussels. Adult mussels (of about 2 years old) dominated this part of the shore, their shells in turn covered in barnacles. There had also been a settlement of spat mussels which had settled between the adult mussels. The presence of mussels on this part of the shore had attracted a large number of their predators, starfish. The mussels had also generated an abundance of mud, which filled the gaps between boulders throughout the mid and lower shore.

Entering the lower shore zone the boulders of the beach suddenly became bare and took on a whitish appearance (Figure 33) due to the presence of calcareous remains of dead barnacles (Balanus cretanus). It was not clear why these barnacles had been displaced, however it may have been due to winter storms or predation; both of which are part of the natural cycle of shore life. The gaps between boulders were also fairly devoid of life being filled with dead shells, mud and pebbles.

Below the mean low water mark the wave cut platforms give way to a boulder zone. The surface of the boulders were covered a canopy of the red seaweed such as Irish moss, cockscomb (Plocamium cartilagineum ), red rags and the red seaweed Polyides rotundus. Many of these seaweeds were in turn covered with bryozoans (Figure 34).

Figure 32 (above)The transect site at St Bees

Figure 33 (below)Bare rocks on the lower shore, coated in the calcified remains of barnacle shells, where barnacles had previously colonised

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Beneath the algal canopy the surfaces of the rocks were covered in an abundance of sea grape sea squirts, the occasional patch of pink encrusting algae (Lithothamnion sp.) and evidence of displaced barnacles. This year due to the large amount of mud present the majority of boulders were anchored down, hence the under boulder community was much reduced compared to previous surveys. Where boulders could be tuned sea squirts (Ascidia conchilega), long clawed crabs and hydroids (Dynamena pumila) could be found. Between boulders Dahlia anemones were commonly found.

No kelp bed was observed on the lower shore this year, possibly due to sand inundation in the shallow sublittoral, however, large kelp plants (Laminaria digitalis) were found attached to boulders throughout the extreme lower shore.

Figure 34Red seaweeds, many covered in bryozoans, on boulders on the lower shore

Table 8Species found at St Bees, September 2006

OGammerusIsopod sp.CCBarnacleBalanus performus

AABarnacleSemibalanus balanoidesFC/FRCommon limpetPatella vulgata

FODog whelkNucella lapillusAOSeed musselMytilus edulisFOEdible musselMytilus edulisO/CEdible periwinkleLittorina littorea

Ogrey top shell/ Silver TommyGibbula cinerariaOHoneycomb worm (mounds)Sabellaria alveolata

OHoneycomb worm (tubes)Sabellaria alveolataCKeel wormPomatoceros lamarckiOSand mason wormLanice concheligaRDead men's fingersAlcyonium digitatumOPlumose anemoneMetridium senileCDahlia anemoneUrticina felina

OFOBeadlet anemoneActinia equinaCHydroidDynamena pumilaRPurse spongeScypha compressa

UpperShore

MidShore

LowerShore

English Name/DescriptionLatin Name

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Table 8 (Continued)Species found at St Bees, September 2006

OYellow lichenXanthoria parietinaOSea ivoryRamalina siliquosaFBlack lichenVerrucaria mucosa

OOBlack tar lichenVerrucaria mauraOBlack shieldsLecanora atra

ORed encrusting algaeRalfsia verrucosaOSea oakPhycodrys rubensFRed algaePolyides rotundus

CLaverPorphyra umbilicalisOCRed epiphytic algaePolysiphonia lanosa

OCockscombPlocamium cartilagineum CDulsePalmaria palmata

ORed algaeMastocarpus stellatusOCRed/pink encrusted AlgaeLithothamnion sp.

FRed/pink encrusted AlgaeLithophyllum incrustansORed encrusting speciesHildenbrandia rubra

Red ragsDilsea carnosaOHollow red algaeDumontia contortaFIrish mossChondrus crispusORed pool algaeCeramium rubrum

OORed furry encrusted algaeRhodothamniella floridulaOOar weedLaminaria digitata

OToothed wrackFucus serratusCOBladder wrackFucus vesiculosus

C/RSpiral wrackFucus spiralisOORopey brown algaeDesmarestia aculeata

CCEgg wrackAscophyllum nodosumC/FOGreen algaeCladophora rupestrisOGreen algaeChaetomorpha linum

Green algaeUlva linzaOGutweedUlva intestinalisFBrown sea squirtMolgula manhattensisOOpaque sea squirtAscidia conchilegaOSea matMembranipora membranaceaFHairy sea matElectra pilosaOCommon brittle starOphiothrix fragilis

FO/CCommon starfishAsterias rubensOBroad clawed crabPorcellana platychelesOLong clawed crabPisidia longicornisOEdible crabCancer pagurus

UpperShore

MidShore

LowerShore

English Name/DescriptionLatin Name

24

NethertownThe Nethertown transect site was originally chosen as it is typical of the south Cumbrian scar grounds where Sabellaria is extremely abundant and forms platforms which blanket large areas of the shore.

The upper shore of this beach is very diverse as the Sabellaria blanket which covers much of the mid and lower shore traps water on the top shore when the tide retreats. The damp pebbles of the upper shore were covered with gutweed, banacles, limpets and beadlet anemones, with patches of dense egg wrack, Rhodothamniella floridula and the stunted black seaweed, Canttella caespitose, growing between rocks. Small mussels are normally found growing between pebbles on this part of the shore, however this year they were absent.

In the 2006 survey small mounds of Sabellariawere found from the upper limits of the mid shore until approximately one quarter of the way down the shore when the Sabellariamounds joined up forming a blanket covering the scar ground. The Sabellaria platform was found to be overgrown with both bladder wrack and gutweed, but otherwise in good shape. Where large stones and boulders poked up from the Sabellaria blanket these were found to be covered in barnacles, limpets and the red sand binding algae Rhodothamniella floridula. The Sabellariablanket also creates pools (figure 35) which provide an ideal habitat for pool algaes and prawns. This year these pools were found to be full of Irish moss, sea lettuce, coral weed, and Ceramium, although some pools were found to be full of silt.

Further down shore the beach became less diverse as the Sabellaria blanket excluded the majority of other species, with the exception of the fucoids growing on its surface. By the lower shore bladder, egg, and spiral wrack was gradually replaced by toothed wrack. In the lower shore zone the Sabellaria blanket began to break up into individual mounds, although there was evidence that new mounds were forming at the edge of the scar (Figure 36).

Figure 35 (above)Mid shore pools formed by the Sabellaria blanket

Figure 36 (below)Newly forming Sabellaria mounds on the lower shore edge of the main scar at Nethertown

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On this transect line the scar area does not quite reach the low water mark, however there is a scar area which extends into the shallow sublittoral slightly to the north of the transect line. Here there was evidence that many barnacles (Balanus cretanus) had recently been knocked off leaving only their white calcareous bases (Figure 37). Where this had occurred the lower shore boulders had been colonized by an abundance of sea grape sea squirts as well as some Sabellaria tubes. Above this understorey of polychaete tubes and sea squirts was a canopy of small red seaweeds, such as Ceramium rubrum, many of which were so covered in encrusting bryozoans that they were almost unrecognisable. The presence of so many sea grapes had resulted in many of the lower shore boulders being more firmly anchored down, hence the under boulder community was less rich on this survey than in previous surveys. Where stones could be turned juvenile starfish and long claw crabs were common.

Figure 37

Sea grapes sea squirts, red seaweeds and the remains of the calcified bases of barnacles on boulder on the lower shore at Nethertown

Table 9Species found at Nethertown, September 2006

FCommon starfishAsterias rubensOBroad clawed crabPorcellana platychelesOLong clawed crabPisidia longicornis

OHermit crabPagurus bernhardusCOOShore crabCarcinus maenas

OEdible crabCancer pagurusOFSmaller common prawnPalaemon elegansCOGammeridGammaridae sp.

OBarnacleBalanus performusFF/ABarnacleSemibalanus balanoides

C/FCommon limpetPatella vulgataCDog whelkNucella lapillus

OFlat top shellGibbula umbilicalisOOFlat periwinkleLittorina obtusataFFEdible periwinkleLittorina littorea

OGrey top shellGibbula cinerariaO Flat top shellGibbula umbilicalis

OChitonLepidochitona cinereaFA/FHoneycomb wormSabellaria alveolata

CKeel wormPomatoceros lamarckiOLugwormArenicola marina

RDahlia anemoneUrticina felinaROrange anemoneSagartia elegans

ORBeadlet anemoneActinia equinaOHydroidDynamena pumilaOFinger spongeHaliclona oculataOBreadcrumb spongeHalichondria panicea

UpperShore

MidShore

LowerShore

English Name/DescriptionLatin Name

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Table 9 (continued)Species found at Nethertown, September 2006

OFBlack lichenVerrucaria mucosaORed epiphytic algaePolysiphonia lanosaORed/pink encrusted AlgaeLithophyllum incrustans

OORed encrusting speciesHildenbrandia rubraCCoral weedCorallina officinalisO/CFIrish mossChondrus crispusOCRed pool algaeCeramium rubrumOStunted black algaeCanttella caespitosaO/CORed furry encrusted algaeRhodothamniella floridulaFBladder wrackFucus vesiculosusOSpiral wrackFucus spiralisCFToothed wrackFucus serratus

CRopey brown algaeCladosterephus spongiosusOFEgg wrackAscophyllum nodosum

O/COSea lettuceUlva lactucaOCGutweedUlva intestinalisOGreen algaeCladophora rupestris

A/FBrown sea squirtMolgula manhattensisCOpaque sea squirtAscidia conchilegaRSea chevilAlcyonidium diaphanumOOrange bryozoansOmbonula littoralisOSeaMembranipora membranacea matFHairy sea matElectra pilosaRSea urchinEchinus esculentusOCommon brittle starOphiothrix fragilis

UpperShore

MidShore

LowerShore

English Name/DescriptionLatin Name

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Sellafield

Access to this particular site is becoming increasingly difficult due to work on the Sellafield outfall pipe. The bridge from the railway station has now been closed, hence it was necessary to wade through the River Ehen in order to gain access to the shore.

The top shore of this transect site is backed by steep dunes before a steep pebbly bank. This year there was a great deal of litter on this bank. One solution to this beach litter problem would be to engage BNFL employees to undertake a beach clean as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s ‘Adopt-a-Beach’ campaign.

One of the feature of this beach, was that t the Sabellaria reef used to reach top shore (possibly due to the lack of visitor disturbance on this little visited beach). In the 2006 survey, however, it was noted that sand inundation had taken place effectively burying the upper shore scar area and its Sabellaria reef (Figure 38). All that remained of this upper shore scar was a small pebbly scar on the top shore beneath the pebble bank where a few mussels, periwinkles, isopods and beadlet anemones were found under the stones.

There is now a sandy area, where lugworms casts were found, before the main scar area begins a quarter of the way down the beach. The Sabellaria reef was found to be covered with gutweed, spiral wrack and further down the shore, bladder wrack. Parts of the reef were found to be eroded in the 2006 survey (Figure 39) leaving boulders that were colonised by barnacles, limpets and periwinkles with beadlet anemones and isopods underneath them. On this shore the Sabellaria reef creates long pools which run up the beach, perpendicular to the coast line. These pools tended to be filled with Irish moss, Ceramium, gutweed and the brown filamentous algae Ectocarpus. These pools also provide a perfect habitat for hermit crabs, prawns and even juvenile sand eels (Ammodytes tobianus ).

The scar area on this beach does not extend very far into the lower shore. On this part of the scar the there were large Sabellaria mounds covered in a layer of Gutweed and laver. Starfish, mussels and long clawed crabs were also found in this area.

Figure 38 (above)Sand inundation covering the upper shore scar ground

Figure 39 (below)Erosion of the Sabellaria reef on the lower mid shore at Sellafield

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Table 10Species found at Sellafield, August 2006

OFLaverPorphyra umbilicalisOBlack tar lichenVerrucaria mucosaCIrish mossChondrus crispusO/FRed pool algaeCeramium rubrumOBladder wrackFucus vesiculosusOSpiral wrackFucus spiralisCBrown algaeEctocarpus siliculosusAAGutweedUlva intestinalisOSand eelsAmmodytes tobianus

OSea matMembranipora membranaceaOCommon starfishAsterias rubens

ROLong clawed crabPisidia longicornisOHermit crabPagurus bernhardusOShore crabCarcinus maenasCSmaller common prawnPalaemon elegans

OFAmphipodAmphipod sp.OLarge barnacleBalanus perforatus

OOOBarnacleSemibalanus balanoidesOCommon limpetPatella vulgataODog whelkNucella lapillus

OOOEdible musselMytilus edulisOO/CEdible periwinkleLittorina littorea

OChitonLeptochiton asellusFOHoneycomb wormSabellaria alveolataOKeel wormPomatoceros lamarckiOSand mason wormLanice concheliga

OCFLugwormArenicola marinaOOBeadlet anemoneActinia equina

UpperShore

MidShore

LowerShore

English Name/DescriptionLatin Name

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Barn Scar

Barn Scar on the Drigg Coast is a large peninsular of boulders on an otherwise sandy stretch of coast. Barn Scar is a particularly diverse area and provides many different habitats for shore organisms. For this reason it is one of the most diverse sites on the Cumbrian coast and is an excellent place to find interesting marine life.

The shore leading down to Barn Scar is sandy and lugworms were frequent here. Over the past few years a few pebbly scar areas were uncovered by the sands and marine life had begun to settle, however on the 2006 survey many of these had been once again covered by sand. The remaining mid shore scars were covered in barnacles, mussels and small seaweeds in gaps between boulders, further down the beach there were also Sabellaria mounds and seed mussels.

The centre of Barn Scar is much more elevated than the edges and is therefore also considered to be the mid shore. This part of the scar was once again dominated by mussels (Figure 40) the majority being 30-45 cm long and many covered in barnacles. Although these barnacles tend to out-complete many other organisms, barnacles were found on the side of large protruding rocks, as well as dog whelks. Any damp pools between boulders were found to be full of Irish moss, Ceramium rubrum, coral weed and prawns. It was noted that in many places in the mid scar mussel zone there were a lot more Sabellaria mounds appearing (Figure 41). In the early 1990’s Barn Scar, like Dubmill Scar was dominated by Sabellaria, however on both scars mussels gradually took over. In some places (although not on the direct transect route) Sabellaria occupied as much of 45% of the area, with mussels occupying 45% and barnacles occupying the remaining 10%). In areas where there was an abundance of Sabellaria mounds there were also patches of young spiral wrack growing on top of it and more pool algaes in the damp pools created. Since at Dubmill the Sabellariahas now taken over from mussels, this raises the question as to whether Sabellaria will once again take over at Barn Scar.

One other point of interest about the mid scar area was the appearance of patches of sand on the southern side, showing more evidence of sand inundation

Figure 40 (above)The mid shore mussel dominated area at Barn Scar

Figure 41 (below)Sabellaria mounds growing over old mussels in the centre of Barn Scar

The lower shore of Barn scar is comprised of a boulder zone which is particularly rich in marine life. This year there were two distinct areas of differing marine life on the transect depending on whether seed mussels had settled. Where seed mussels had settled they completely dominated the lower shore anchoring down cobbles and therefore reducing the normally rich under boulder community. The only other organisms found in this area where Sabellaria tubes and dense patches of sea oak.

On the more western edge of the transect no seed mussels had settled and three distinct zones were observed:

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The first zone moving down the beach was dominated by the white bases of barnacles which had been displaced and newly settled barnacles. Moving into the extreme lower shore there was an abundance of toothed wrack, with an under storey of Irish moss and Ceramium species (both of which were covered with bryozoans). Underneath this layer of algae the stones were covered with individual Sabellaria tubes, keel worms and the calcified remains of barnacle shells. The lower zone (sublittoral edge) was occupied by kelp plants (sugar kelp and oarweed). Throughout this area there was a rich under-boulder community of long clawed crabs, edible crabs, starfish, brittle stars, sea urchins and sea squirts.

Table 11Species found at Barn Scar, September 2005

C/FSugar BeltLaminaria saccharinaC/FOar weedLaminaria digitataO/FPod weedHalidrys siliquosa

OC/FToothed wrackFucus serratusOBrown algaeEctocarpus siliculosusCRopey brown algaeDesmarestia aculeataCOGutweedUlva intestinalisOGreen algaeCladophora rupestrisOUnidentified fish

OShannyLipophrys pholisO/COpaque sea squirtAscidia conchilegaOOrange bryozoansOmbonula littoralisFHairy sea matElectra pilosaOSea urchinEchinus esculentus

CFCommon starfishAsterias rubensCCommon brittle starOphiothrix fragilis

CC/FLong clawed crabPisidia longicornisOOHermit crabPagurus bernhardusOShore crabCarcinus maenas

OEdible crabCancer pagurusOSmaller common prawnPalaemon elegans

OSand hopperOrchestra gammerellusOBarnacleBalanus performus

FFBarnacleChthamalus montaguiFBarnacleSemibalanus ablanoidesRCommon limpetPatella vulgata

CDog whelk eggsNucella lapillusO/CDog whelkNucella lapillusCEdible periwinkleLittorina littoreaCASeed musselMytilus edulisAEdible musselMytilus edulisO/FOFlat top shellGibbula umbilicalisOChitonLeptochiton asellusOF/CHoneycomb wormSabellaria alveolataOOKeel wormPomatoceros lamarckiCSand mason wormLanice concheligaCLugwormArenicola marina

ODahlia anemoneUrticina felinaOBeadlet anemoneActinia equina

OHydroidDynamena pumilaOBreadcrumb spongeHalichondria panicea

UpperShore

MidShore

LowerShore

English Name/ descriptionLatin Name

31

Table 11 (continued)Species found at Barn Scar, September 2006

OBlack lichenVerrucaria mucosaORed encrusting algaeRalfsia verrucosa

OLaverPorphyra umbilicalisORed alagePolytides rotundusOCockscombPlocamium cartilagineum ODulsePalmaria palmata

ORed algaeMastocarpus stellatusORed/pink encrusted AlgaeLithophyllum incrustans

ORed algaeGriffithsia flosculosaOHollow red algaeDumontia contorta

CRed ragsDilsea carnosaOSea beachDelesseria sanguineaOCoral weedCorallina officinalisOC/FIrish mossChondrus crispusOC/FRed pool algaeCeramium rubrum

UpperShore

MidShore

LowerShore

English Name/ descriptionLatin Name

32

Tarn Point

This is the most southerly of the survey sites and it typical of the rocky scar ground which extend south as far as Gutterby Spa (Figure 43). For the second year running the top shore of this beautiful beach was covered in litter.

Damp pebbles make up the upper shore zone and these were dominated by barnacles, with patches of black tar lichen (Verrucariamucosa), gutweed and channel wrack (Pelvetia canaliculata) on the embedded cobbles.

The upper mid shore is dominated by a dry stony area, where the cobbles are anchored down by the small mussels embedded in the sand beneath them. The tops of these cobbles were covered in barnacles or black tar lichen, with false Irish moss (Mastocarpus stellatus) in the gaps between them and in any damp pools. Mid way down the mid shore a Sabellaria blanket begins to take over the shore. This year this Sabellaria blanket was found to be covered in spiral and bladder wrack and actively growing. Further down the beach (by the large boulder) the Sabellariablanket and individual mounds began to be covered in patches of bright green algae (Figure 44). Despite this the Sabellariaformations were in very good shape. As a result of the health of the Sabellaria platform and its dominance over the beach very few other habitats were present (e.g. pools, under boulder communities), hence relatively few other species were found.

On the lower shore the Sabellaria reef began to break down into individual mounds. Many of which were at least 50cm in height and diameter and covered in bright green algae (see Figure 2 in the introduction) which looked remarkably like hair!

At Tarn Point the scar ground ends at around the neap low water mark and a sandy beach extends into the sublittoral.

Figure 43 (above)The lower shore of the transect site at Tarn Point

Figure 44 (below)Patches of bright green algae and bladder wrack on the Sabellaria platforms at Tarn Point

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Table 12Species found at Tarn Point, July 2006

CCBlack lichenVerrucaria mucosaO/CRed encrusting algaeRalfsia verrucosa

CRed algaeMastocarpus stellatusOCoral weedCorallina officinalis

CRed pool algaeCeramium rubrumFOChannel wrackPelvetia canaliculata

CBladder wrackFucus vesiculosusOSpiral wrackFucus spiralisRC/FToothed wrackFucus serratusOBrown algaeEctocarpus siliculosus

CFFGreen algaeUlva linzaOGutweedUlva intestinalis

RStarfishAsterias rubensOShore crabCarcinus maenas

OSmaller common prawnPalaemon elegansOSmaller common prawnPalaemon elegans

OCBarnacleSemibalanus balanoidesOCommon limpetPatella vulgataOCDog whelkNucella lapillus

OOEdible musselMytilus edulisFC/FEdible periwinkleLittorina littorea

O/AF/AHoneycomb wormSabellaria alveolataOCKeel wormPomatoceros lamarckiOO/CLugwormArenicola marinaOOBeadlet anemoneActinia equina

OHydroidDynamena pumila

UpperShore

MidShore

LowerShore

English Name/DescriptionLatin Name

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