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Marine biological survey to establish the distribution and status of ...

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Plate 7<br />

Scattered maerl medallions amongst pebbles <strong>and</strong> cobbles at <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn edge<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Guirdil maerl bed, Sound <strong>of</strong> Canna<br />

Live, pink maerl<br />

medallions<br />

scattered on<br />

coarse mixed<br />

seabed<br />

sediments<br />

O<strong>the</strong>r frequent species included <strong>the</strong> amphipods Iphimedia nexa, Ceradocus semiserratus,<br />

Maera othonis, Phtisica marina <strong>and</strong> an unidentified gammarid, <strong>the</strong> brittlestar Amphipholis<br />

squamata <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> prawn Eualus pusiolus. The most numerous polychaetes found were<br />

Sphaerosyllis bulbosa, Aonides paucibranchiata, Polycirrus medusa, Trypanosyllis coeliaca,<br />

Hydroides norvegica <strong>and</strong> an unidentified polynoid.<br />

3.2.4 Nor<strong>the</strong>rn sea fan <strong>and</strong> deep sponge communities<br />

The following component bio<strong>to</strong>pes <strong>and</strong> species <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn sea fan <strong>and</strong> deep sponge<br />

communities MPA search feature were recorded in 2010:<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

Caryophyllia smithii <strong>and</strong> Swiftia pallida on circalit<strong>to</strong>ral rock<br />

CR.MCR.EcCr.CarSwi<br />

Mixed turf <strong>of</strong> hydroids <strong>and</strong> large ascidians with Swiftia pallida <strong>and</strong> Caryophyllia smithii<br />

on weakly tide-swept circalit<strong>to</strong>ral rock<br />

CR.HCR.XFa.SwiLgAs<br />

Nor<strong>the</strong>rn sea fan<br />

Swiftia pallida<br />

Distribution<br />

<br />

<br />

Depth range: CarSwi 46 - 220 m; SwiLgAs 24 - 34 m (limit <strong>of</strong> single dive record)<br />

Total area: 141 ha<br />

Description<br />

The nor<strong>the</strong>rn sea fan Swiftia pallida (Plate 8) was found on boulders <strong>and</strong> patches <strong>of</strong> bedrock<br />

on muddy sediment in deep water (CR.MCR.EcCr.CarSwi), <strong>and</strong> on steep <strong>and</strong> vertical rock<br />

(CR.HCR.XFa.SwiLgAs). The main area <strong>of</strong> boulders with Swiftia (CR.MCR.EcCr.CarSwi)<br />

was <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> eastern end <strong>of</strong> S<strong>and</strong>ay, with smaller boulder piles scattered throughout <strong>the</strong> area<br />

(Figure 22). Sublit<strong>to</strong>ral cliffs around <strong>the</strong> east <strong>and</strong> south <strong>of</strong> S<strong>and</strong>ay <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>f An t-Each on <strong>the</strong><br />

north-east <strong>of</strong> Canna were only partially <strong>survey</strong>ed. S. pallida was present at three locations<br />

around S<strong>and</strong>ay <strong>and</strong> is likely <strong>to</strong> be more widely distributed on <strong>the</strong>se cliffs. It was reported<br />

from An t-Each by local divers although none was found during <strong>the</strong> <strong>survey</strong>.<br />

32

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