Important Plant Areas for algae - Natural History Museum

Potential UK Red Data List desmids
Cosmarium phaseolus, Euastrum gayanum
UK IPA for Desmids
7. Torver Tarn, Cumbria
Grid ref:
SD281926
Status:
SSSI
Ownership:
National Trust
Qualifying criteria:
A; B1, B2; C
No. of species recorded:
50 plus
No. of potential UK Red List desmids 10
Survey period
May 1981 – July 1990 (6 visits)
Records contact:
David Williamson
Site description
A small tarn just 1.5 m in maximum depth and slightly alkaline with a comparatively high in calcium
(Haworth et al., 2003). The shallow extremities and the inflow on the north side are surrounded by
Sphagnum peat. Its small catchment is mainly rock, bracken and peat.
Potential UK Red Data List desmids
Actinotaenium inconspicuum, Cosmarium regnesii, C. sportella, Groenbladia undulata var. perundulata,
Hyalotheca mucosa, Staurastrum incus, S. glaber, S. laeve, S. longispinum, Sphaerozosma vertebratum.
UK IPA for Desmids
8. Dock Tarn, Cumbria
Grid ref:
NY274144
Status:
SSSI
Ownership:
unknown
Qualifying criteria:
A; B1, B2; C
No. of species recorded:
50 plus
No. of potential UK Red List desmids 13
Survey period
Sept 1981 – May 1988 (5 visits)
Records contact:
David Williamson
Site description
One of the largest of the Cumbrian tarns (over 34 km²) lying in a moorland hollow on the upland between
lower Eskdale and Dunnerdale. Its water has a low to circumneutral pH and is nutrient-poor
(oligotrophic). The small catchment is of rough grassland, heather moor, rock outcrops and wet peat.
Potential UK Red Data List desmids
Actinotaenium capax, Cosmarium galeritum, C. regnellii, C. undulatum, C. excavatum, C.
pseudonitidulum, Gonatozygon monotaenium, Hyalotheca mucosa, Staurastrum brasilense, S.
longispinum, S. sebaldi, S. senarium, S. sexangulare.
UK IPA for Desmids
9. Barngate Tarn ('Drunken Duck' tarn), Cumbria
74