1073470Edited by MartynC.110012663layer_information_pageund1449064502151990808700151990808755<p>This includes the tidal rapids of sea lochs, areas of water between islands and also the strong tidal regions found between mainland Scotland and islands (e.g. the Pentland Firth). Large volumes of sea water are forced through narrow channels by tidal processes culminating in fast currents that, in certain locations, can exceed 10 knots. Although the turbulent conditions are largely associated with the top 5m of the water column, some tidal streams can be felt at depths in excess of 30m.</p> <p>Many of these habitats are found on the west coast around the sills and narrows of sea lochs. These areas are inhabited by a wide range of animals such as sea mats, sea firs, sea squirts, sea anemones and sponges. Where the substrate is particularly stable, kelp parks may develop which in turn provide suitable habitat for a diverse epiphytic fauna and flora of sponges, sea squirts and foliose seaweeds. In deeper water, where light is limited, the sea bed is dominated by animals and it is not uncommon to see dense beds of brittlestars. Tide swept channels are particularly well represented in Scotland and are extremely important for a great diversity of marine organisms including a range of biogenic reef habitats such as horse mussel beds, flame shell beds and maerl.</p> full_html<p>This includes the tidal rapids of sea lochs, areas of water between islands and also the strong tidal regions found between mainland Scotland and islands (e.g. the Pentland Firth). Large volumes of sea water are forced through narrow channels by tidal processes culminating in fast currents that, in certain locations, can exceed 10 knots. Although the turbulent conditions are largely associated with the top 5m of the water column, some tidal streams can be felt at depths in excess of 30m.</p> <p>Many of these habitats are found on the west coast around the sills and narrows of sea lochs. These areas are inhabited by a wide range of animals such as sea mats, sea firs, sea squirts, sea anemones and sponges. Where the substrate is particularly stable, kelp parks may develop which in turn provide suitable habitat for a diverse epiphytic fauna and flora of sponges, sea squirts and foliose seaweeds. In deeper water, where light is limited, the sea bed is dominated by animals and it is not uncommon to see dense beds of brittlestars. Tide swept channels are particularly well represented in Scotland and are extremely important for a great diversity of marine organisms including a range of biogenic reef habitats such as horse mussel beds, flame shell beds and maerl.</p> 272847155Fucoids in tide-swept conditions.jpgpublic://Fucoids in tide-swept conditions.jpgimage/jpeg2074111469788752image Fucoids in tide-swept conditions Fucoids in tide-swept conditions Fucoids in tide-swept conditions © SNH Fucoids in tide-swept conditions © SNH <_drafty_revision_requested>FIELD_LOAD_CURRENT Fucoids in tide-swept conditions281375281375808810<p>There are four&nbsp;important tide-swept algal dominated communities:</p> <p><strong>Fucoids in tide-swept conditions </strong>(intertidal)</p> <p>A species rich complex habitat occurring in sea lochs, embayments and between islands in the Inner and Outer Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland and the west and north-west of Scotland.</p> <p><strong><em>Halidrys siliquosa</em> and mixed kelps on tide-swept infralittoral rock and coarse sediment</strong> (subtidal)</p> <p>Very few records in Scotland but considered to be under-recorded. It is structurally complex and species rich supporting a diverse community of red seaweeds, sea firs, sea mats, sea squirts, starfish, topshells and sea anemones.</p> <p><strong>Kelp and seaweed communities in tide-swept sheltered conditions </strong>(subtidal)</p> <p>A large proportion of records in UK are from Scottish sea lochs, the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. It is dominated by kelp ( <em>Laminaria digitata, L. hyperborea</em> and <em>L. saccharina) </em>with an understorey of red seaweeds, sponges, sea squirts and sea mats.</p> <p><strong><em>Laminaria hyperborea</em> in tide-swept infralittoral mixed substrata </strong>(subtidal)</p> <p>A large proportion of UK records are from sea lochs of west coast mainland and Orkney, Outer Hebrides and Shetland. The kelp canopy supports a diverse range of red seaweeds along with sponges, sea squirts, sea mats and sea anemones, echinoderms and molluscs.</p> filtered_html<p>There are four important tide-swept algal dominated communities:</p> <p><strong>Fucoids in tide-swept conditions </strong>(intertidal)</p> <p>A species rich complex habitat occurring in sea lochs, embayments and between islands in the Inner and Outer Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland and the west and north-west of Scotland.</p> <p><strong><em>Halidrys siliquosa</em> and mixed kelps on tide-swept infralittoral rock and coarse sediment</strong> (subtidal)</p> <p>Very few records in Scotland but considered to be under-recorded. It is structurally complex and species rich supporting a diverse community of red seaweeds, sea firs, sea mats, sea squirts, starfish, topshells and sea anemones.</p> <p><strong>Kelp and seaweed communities in tide-swept sheltered conditions </strong>(subtidal)</p> <p>A large proportion of records in UK are from Scottish sea lochs, the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. It is dominated by kelp ( <em>Laminaria digitata, L. hyperborea</em> and <em>L. saccharina) </em>with an understorey of red seaweeds, sponges, sea squirts and sea mats.</p> <p><strong><em>Laminaria hyperborea</em> in tide-swept infralittoral mixed substrata </strong>(subtidal)</p> <p>A large proportion of UK records are from sea lochs of west coast mainland and Orkney, Outer Hebrides and Shetland. The kelp canopy supports a diverse range of red seaweeds along with sponges, sea squirts, sea mats and sea anemones, echinoderms and molluscs.</p> 145451456114210142095081508250865155529614647876875877874880878sioc:Itemfoaf:Documentdc:datedc:createdxsd:dateTimedate_iso8601dc:modifiedxsd:dateTimedate_iso8601content:encodedsioc:has_creatorrelfoaf:namesioc:num_repliesxsd:integersioc:last_activity_datexsd:dateTimedate_iso8601https://marine.gov.scot/?q=information/tide-swept-algal-communities-intertidal-rock-and-subtidal-rock09480310734712663publishedpublished5515199080871115199080879480310734712663publishedpublished5515199080871115199080879480310734712663publishedpublished551519908087111519908087