It's that time again ...MarClim survey! What did we find on the Rocky Shore??

Every year the MarClim project with the help of NE staff survey the rocky shore here on the Nature Reserve. You can find out more about the survey here http://www.mba.ac.uk/marclim/. The data collected feeds into a national dataset which over time can tell us about species shifts. Below are some of the species that were found on the survey.

All were photographed and left were they where found to carry on their day. If you are out rock pooling around the Reserve then remember to leave anything you look at where you found it, replace any rocks and if you have dogs with you keep them on a lead or close at heel. Thanks to Catherine Scott for the images and captions.




A squat lobster (Galathea squamifera) on the rocky shore, hiding under a rock. Always make sure that you put a turned rock back carefully in its original position, so the animals and plants uncovered do not dry out and die.

Velvet Swimming crab (Necora puber) -- be careful they can give you a nasty nip.



Brittlestar (Ophiothrix fragilis) a small example sitting on Halichondria sponge.



Loads of beasties in a rock crevice. Can you spot the Strawberry anemone (Actinia fragacea) and the edible crab (Cancer pagurus)?