Habitats of Molluscs: Rocky Shores
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Open shores with a vertical or strongly sloping profile, subject to considerable wave action. Characterised by a wide splash zone, many crevices, low algal diversity. Species includes:– |
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Gastropods: Patella vulgata Patella ulyssiponensis (S & W) Patella depressa (S & W) Melarhaphe neritoides Littorina saxatilis Littorina arcana (W) Littorina compressa (SW & W) Nucella lapillus |
Bivalves: Mytillus edulis Musculus discors Lasaea adansoni | |
| Less open than the above with a shallower slope and a greater diversity of algae including fucoids, Cladophora and Corallina. Still subject to moderately strong wave action. Often with large rocks. Undersides of rocks often colonised by bryozoans and serpulids. Species includes all of the above plus the following:– |
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Gastropods: Tectura testudinalis (N) Tectura virginea Helcion pellucidum Osilinus lineatus (SW & W) Gibbula umbilicalis (S & W) Gibbula cineraria Tricolia pullus Littorina littorea |
Littorina obtusata Littorina fabalis Lacuna pallidula Rissoa parva Rissoa interrupta |
Bivalves: Hiatella arctica Heteranomia squamula Turtonia minuta |
| Often has extensive ledge systems with low wave action. Contains many pools, crevices and overhangs, and a high diversity of algae and other animals. | |||
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The fauna includes many of the species from the list for semi-exposed shores but less of the species on the exposed shore list. The additional fauna is almost endless depending on the degree of shelter and overall species richness of the site, however, the following are typical:– | ||
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Gastropods: Calliostoma zizyphinum Lacuna vincta Lacuna parva rissoids Trivia arctica |
Trivia monacha Lamellaria latens Lamellaria perspicua Buccinum undatum Hinia incrassata |
Bivalves: Chlamys varia Venerupis senegalensis |
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