Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T22:53:59.003Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The fauna of sandy beaches in Orkney: a review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

S. M. Atkins ,
A. M. Jones  and
J. A. Simpson
S. M. Atkins
Affiliation:
Orkney Marine Biology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN
A. M. Jones
Affiliation:
Orkney Marine Biology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN
J. A. Simpson
Affiliation:
Orkney Marine Biology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN
Get access

Synopsis

The physical and biological characteristics of a variety of sandy shores in Orkney are described using transect data from 7 sites within Scapa Flow and 7 sites from the Mainland and North Isles. Shore profiles are described and discussed, shores ranging in length from 80 m to 1200 m. Median grain size of the sediments was generally between 180 and 300 μm (fine to medium grade sands) and the sediments were very clean. The fauna was dominated numerically by polychaetes and amphipods on all shores, Pygospio elegans, Capitella capitata and Bathyporeia spp. being the dominant forms; molluscs were notably insignificant on most shores. Tables giving the maximum densities of every species recorded together with the maximum densities of dominant species at each station on all shores are presentThe results are compared with a range of North European shores which comprise basically similar communities but with much higher population densities in Orkney. A site of unique interest at the Bay of Quoys, Hoy, is described and discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences , Volume 87 , Issue 1-2: The Marine Biology of the Orkney Islands , 1985 , pp. 27 - 45
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1985

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Beukema, J. J. 1976. Biomass and species richness of the macrobenthic animals living on the tidal flats of the Dutch Wadden Sea. Neth. J. Sea Res. 10, 236–261.Google Scholar
Clark, R. B. 1960. The Fauna of the Clyde Sea Area: Polychaeta. Millport: Scottish Marine Biological Association.Google Scholar
de Wilde, P. A. J. W. and Bergelius, E. M. 1979. Spawning and gamete production in Arenicola marina in the Netherlands Wadden Sea. Neth. J. Sea Res. 13, 503–511.Google Scholar
Eleftheriou, A. and Mclntyre, A. D. 1976. The intertidal fauna of sandy beaches—a survey of the Scottish Coast. Scottish Fisheries Report No.6. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland.Google Scholar
Garwood, P. R. 1982. The marine fauna of the Cullercoats district. No. 10. Polychaeta—Sedentaria including Archiannelida. Rep. Dove Mar. Lab. 23.Google Scholar
Jones, A. M. 1980. Monitoring studies associated with an oil reception terminal. Rapp. P.-V. Réun. Cons. Perm. Int. Explor. Mer 179, 194–200.Google Scholar
Jones, A. M. 1984. The ecology of Oil Development in Scapa Flow, Orkney. In Planning and Ecology, ed. Roberts, R. D. and Roberts., T. M., pp. 345–350. London: Chapman and Hall.Google Scholar
Jones, A. M. and Jones, Y. M. 1981. The soft shore environment of Sullom Voe and the north Mainland of Shetland. Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinb. 80B, 203 218. Google Scholar
McMillan, N. F. 1971. Large Cardium edule L. and Mytilus edulis L. J. Conch. 26, 353.Google Scholar
Mather, A. S., Smith, J. S. and Ritchie, W. 1974. Beaches of Orkney. Department of Geography, University of Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Mather, A. S., Ritchie, W. and Smith, J. S. 1975. An Introduction to the morphology of the Orkney coastline. In The Natural Environment of Orkney, ed. Goodier, R., pp. 10–18. Edinburgh: Nature Conservancy Council.Google Scholar
Morgans, J. F. C. 1956. Notes on the analysis of shallow-water soft substrata J. Anim. Ecol. 25, 367–387.Google Scholar
Mykura, W. 1976. British Regional Geology: Orkney and Shetland. Edinburgh: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Pielou, E. C. 1975. Ecological Diversity. New York: Wiley Interscience.Google Scholar
Seed, R. and Lowry, B. J. 1973. The intertidal macrofauna of seven sandy beaches of County Down. Proc. Roy. Ir. Acad. 70B, 217–230.Google Scholar
Winkworth, R. 1920. Giant Race of Cardium edule. J. Conch. 26, 569.Google Scholar