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

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Axinella infundibuliformis <strong>and</strong> possibly Phakellia ventilabrum, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> boring sponge Cliona<br />

celata. There were bryozoan crusts on rock surfaces, probably Parasmittina trispinosa <strong>and</strong><br />

echinoderms were frequent including Echinus esculentus, Luidia ciliaris, Henricia sp. <strong>and</strong><br />

occasionally Lep<strong>to</strong>metra celtica. At a few sites where <strong>the</strong>re was a significant tidal stream <strong>the</strong><br />

jewel anemone Corynactis viridis covered <strong>the</strong> boulders. White clumps, thought <strong>to</strong> be<br />

colonies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> worm Salmacina dysteri, were frequently seen.<br />

Plate 9 Sponges, jewel anemones <strong>and</strong> bryozoans in <strong>the</strong> Swiftia pallida<br />

CR.HCR.XFa.SwiLgAs bio<strong>to</strong>pe on <strong>the</strong> Great Wall <strong>of</strong> Canna<br />

The cliffs were <strong>survey</strong>ed in a few places by divers (see Figure 10) <strong>and</strong> Swiftia pallida was<br />

found below about 30 m depth (<strong>the</strong> CR.HCR.XFa.SwiLgAs bio<strong>to</strong>pe was recorded at dive<br />

Site 2). The bedrock wall on <strong>the</strong> east <strong>of</strong> S<strong>and</strong>ay (Great Wall <strong>of</strong> Canna) had many small<br />

ledges, overhangs, fissures <strong>and</strong> crevices. Much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rock surface was covered with<br />

Corynactis viridis (Plate 9) <strong>and</strong> a bryozoan turf, with Securiflustra securifrons common.<br />

There were frequent large colonies <strong>of</strong> Cliona celata <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> hydroid Nemertesia antennina<br />

was common. Overhangs had scyphis<strong>to</strong>mae, small hydroids <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> anemones<br />

Epizoanthus couchii <strong>and</strong> Parazoanthus anguicomus (a PMF). Sagartia elegans was<br />

frequent on <strong>the</strong> open rock. The European spiny lobster Palinurus elephas, <strong>the</strong> lobster<br />

Homarus gammarus <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> edible crab Cancer pagurus were all present. There were<br />

several axinellid sponge species from about 25 m downwards.<br />

Shallower rock on <strong>the</strong> cliffs above <strong>the</strong> Swiftia pallida bio<strong>to</strong>pe was dominated by Corynactis<br />

viridis with foliose red algae (CR.HCR.XFa.CvirCri) whilst in <strong>the</strong> areas <strong>of</strong> cliff exposed <strong>to</strong><br />

stronger tides, S. pallida was absent <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> hydroid Tubularia indivisa was common with<br />

C. viridis, sponges, bryozoan turf including Securiflustra securifrons <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> white cluster<br />

anemone Parazoanthus anguicomus (CR.HCR.XFa.SpAnVt). It is probable that S. pallida is<br />

present in deeper water beyond diving depths along <strong>the</strong>se more exposed stretches <strong>of</strong> cliff,<br />

possibly in lower abundance with increasing numbers <strong>of</strong> sponges (CR.HCR.DpSp).<br />

3.2.5 Seagrass beds<br />

The following component bio<strong>to</strong>pe <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> seagrass beds MPA search feature was recorded in<br />

2010:<br />

34

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