Important Plant Areas for algae - Natural History Museum

52 Lamlash Bay,
Arran, Argyll
NS030315 MPA A, B Some of the seabed of Lamlash Bay consists of soft substrata
including patches of seagrass. There are also the remains of a deep
maerl bed, which although has been extensively damaged by scallop
dredging since the 1970s, still has significant area of maerl. More
recently, previously undiscovered patches of maerl were found in
excellent condition. There are also Zostera spp.
53 Isle of Cumbrae NS160540 B High This site has a high diversity of algae and a long and extensive
history of study, especially since the mid 19th C. There are large
collections in the BM. Maerl has been found between the Cumbrae
Islands. It is the type locality for species of algae including
Petrocelis hennedyi (Harvey) Batters.
Lithothamnion corallioides
54 Loch Sween, NR720820 MCA A This site has diverse and unusual algal assemblages. Phymatolithon calcareum
Argyll
55 Tiree, Argyll NM980450 B This site is a diversity hotspot and is the northernmost limit for some
algal species.
56 Sound of Islay, NR435700 C Site has maerl beds.
Inner Hebrides
58 Sound of Arisaig, NM650800 SAC;
Ascophyllum nodosum ecad
Inner Hebrides
SSSI
59 Barra/Eriskay
Sound, Outer
Hebrides
60 Loch Maddy
complex, north
Uist, Outer
Hebrides
(including Loch
Eport, North Uist,
Outer Hebrides)
62 Sound of Harris,
Outer Hebrides
67 Loch Duich Head,
Ross and
Cromerty
A, C The site is of sublittoral sandbanks on the west coast of Scotland with
some of the most extensive beds of maerl in the UK. There are rich
communities associated with the maerl, including several rare and
scarce species, such as the alga Gloiosiphonia capillaris. Zostera
marina is found on shallow sand in outer Loch Ailort. The site is an
important part of the transition from southern to northern
communities that occurs along the coast of the UK.
NF760080 dSAC B, C This site is a diversity hotspot and supports maerl beds.
NF930680/
NF880645
SAC A, C This site is representative of fjardic sea lochs on the coast of northwest
Scotland. There are numerous rocks and islands. There are
dense beds of knotted wrack Ascophyllum nodosum ecad mackayi
and a variety of kelp forest types that illustrate the wave exposure
gradient in the loch. There are also maerl communities.
NF970810 B, D This site is a possible diversity hotspot.
NG930190
SAC;
SSSI
mackayi
Gloiosiphonia capillaris
Ascophyllum nodosum ecad
mackayi
Callophyllis cristata
C The reef system at this site is considered to be one of the best areas in Ascophyllum nodosum ecad
the UK. There is maerl.
mackayi
Cruoria cruoriaeformis
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