Citation: Goss-Custard, S., Jones, J., Kitching, J.A. & Norton, T.A. 1979 The ecology of Lough Hyne XXI. Tide pools of Carrigathorna and Barloge Creek. Philospophical Trancsactions of the Royal Society of London 287B: 1-44
Number of Pages: 44
Keywords: Alga, Cork, Fauna, Flora, Littoral, Lough Hyne, Marine, Mollusca, Reserve, Rock, Rockpool, Salinity, Seaweed, Survey
Abstract: An ecological account is given of tide pools at two sites on the south-west of Ireland. Five ecological facies are described as characterising the pools (from high level downwards: Enteromorpha scrub; smooth encrusting coralline algae soured by limpets, Corallina scrub, Laminaria fast, and Dictyota scrub. Samples of Corallina and Cystoseira were taken to analyse associated fauna. One hundred and eleven species of algae and 198 species of animals are recorded from the tide pools. Rockpools are described from different levels on the shore at a wave-exposed and a warm-sheltered site outside of Lough Ine, Ireland. Five ecological facies characterized the pools: Enteromorpha scrub; smooth encrusting coralline algae scoured by limpets; Corallina scrub; Laminaria forest; and Dictyota scrub. One 'aberrant' pool drained slowly by leakage over neap tides and was occupied by a blanket of blue-green algae (Lyngbya confervoides). Another pool contained much Cystoseira nodicaulis and a rich associated invertebrate fauna. Quantitative samples were taken of Corallina and Cystoseira and the fauna extracted. 111 species of algae and 198 species of animals were recorded. Records of oxygenation, pH and salinity were taken over tidal cycles. Clearance of limpets and of Corallina in different pools was undertaken and results surveyed about two months and, in the case of Corallina clearance, nine months and 14 months later.