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Species Recorded Phylum Common Name Number Common Species The table to the right shows the of species number of species recorded in each Porifera Sponges 4 Myxilla incrustans phylum and indentifies the more Cnidaria Anemones, corals, 22 Kelp fur Obelia geniculata hydroids, jellyfish Dead men's fingers Alcyonium digitatum common species. Only one of the Dahlia anemone Urticina felina species is a Biodiveristy Action Plan Plumose anemone Metridium senile Elegant anemone Sagartia elegans (BAP) species, the crawfish, Palinurus Devonshire cup coral Caryophyllia smithii elephas, but a number of others are Annelida Segmented worms 5 Keelworms Pomatoceros spp. nationally or locally scarce or rare. Sprial worms Spirorbis spp. Crustacea Crabs, lobsters, barnacles 17 Greater acorn barnacle Balanus balanus Sponges Humpback prawn Pandalus montagui Lobster Homarus gammarus All of the sponges identified were low Hermit crab Pagurus bernhardus growing species with no massive or Spiny squat lobster Galathea srtigosa Edible crab Cancer pagurus branching sponges present. Velvet swimming crab Necora puber Mollusca Shells, sea slugs, cuttlefish 28 Grey topshell Gibbula cinerea Hydroids, anemones and corals Painted topshell Calliostoma zizyphinum This coast is notable for the very large Dead men’s finger sea slug Tritonia hombergi numbers of dead men’s fingers, Orange clubbed sea slug Limacia clavigera Bryozoa Sea mats 12 Sea mat Membranipora membranacea Alcyonium digitatum and these Hornwrack Flustra foliacea occurred in all of the rocky sites (cover Bryozoan crusts indet. mid left). Echinodermata Starfish, sea urchins, 12 Common feather star Antedon bifida Common sunstar Crossaster papposus Species which have a north-easterly Bloody Henry Henricia spp. distribution included the deeplet sea Common starfish Asterias rubens Black brittlestar Ophiocomina nigra anemone, Bolocera tuediae (rare). Common urchin Echinus esculentus Jewel anemones, Corynactis viridis, Tunicata Sea squirts 8 Light bulb sea squirt Clavelina lepadiformis were seen on one occasion in 2005 Star sea squirt Botryllus schlosseri (photo below) and have not been Pisces Fishes 30 Pollack Pollachius polachius Ballan wrasse Labrus bergylta recorded since. Buttefish Pholis gunnelus This is believed Aves Birds (seen underwater) 1 Farne Islands Surveys CW CW to be the only Mammalia Mammals 1 Atlantic grey seal Halichoerus grypus North Sea Algae Seaweeds 11 Encrusting pink seaweed Lithothamnion spp. record of this Cuvie Laminaria hyperborea 2005-2008 species. Total Species 151 FR Molluscs Starfish and sea urchins Segmented worms A wide range of mollucs was recorded, The edible sea urchin, Echinus Calcareous worm tubes are a common including 14 sea slugs. One of these was esculentus is abundant in the Farne feature of most of the rocky surfaces in Dendronotus frondosus (cover bottom Islands and has a huge impact on the islands and fragments make up a right - an unusual colour form). the biodiversity. Many sites have significant component of the gravels. Curled octopus, Eledone cirrhosa were relatively bare surfaces because of seen on a number of occasions and the heavy urchin grazing pressure. Crabs, lobsters, prawns and there was one record of egg masses of Two of the starfishes have a barnacles the northern cuttlefish, Rossia sp. northerly distribution, the common Crustaceans were common at many sunstar, Crossaster papposus Bryozoans sites, ranging from lobsters to (frequent) and the purple sunstar, Bryozoan crusts were widespread on humpback prawns, with squat lobsters Solaster endacea (rare). urchin-grazed rocky surfaces. particularly common. Fishes The record of a The orange A wide range of fishes was recorded crawfish is the Smittina showing that large numbers of seals only one on the landsborovii (right), can coexist with good fish NBN for the is rarely recorded populations. Species recorded CW whole of the elsewhere, and CW included cod, saithe and Norwegian English North was frequently topknot, all more common in the Sea coast. seen on vertical CN walls. CW North Sea than elsewhere. Seasearch is a volunteer underwater survey project for recreational divers, enabling them to contribute to protecting marine wildlife through recording underwater habitats and the plants and animals they support. Seasearch provides training for volunteer divers and organises dives and survey expeditions. Seasearch is co-ordinated by the Marine Conservation Society on behalf of the Seasearch Steering Group. The Farne Islands surveys have been organised by Fiona Ravenscroft on behalf of MCS. Thanks to all of those who have provided data, both from the organised surveys and their own dives. Text by Chris Wood. Images by Chris Wood, Fiona Ravenscroft, Christine Norris and Justin Hart. Financial support for Seasearch in England in 2008 has been given by: www.seasearch.org.uk email: [email protected] phone: 07776 142096 CW CW Location and Background North Wamses and Northern Hares Whirl Rocks The Farne Islands lie off the Northumberland coast These two sites both face north west and the seabed slopes Whirl Rocks is the most exposed site in the Farne Islands and are the only rocky islands off the English North less steeply than on the southern side of the Outer Farnes and is subject to strong tidal streams and heavy swells. It is Sea coast. They contain the clearest water and most group. In the case of Northern Hares there was a steep rocky very often not possible to dive it. extensive areas of sublittoral rock on this coastline. wall to 16m bcd, whilst at North Wamses it extended only to The top of the reef has an extensive kelp forest. 11m. In both cases there were boulders on the much more The eastern side has vertical walls to 20m bcd which are The islands divide into two groups, the Inner and gently sloping seabed to the north-west. At the top of the too steep for urchins to graze and are therefore covered in Outer Farnes, with two outlying rocks, the Megstone walls there was kelp forest with some elegant anemones and dead men’s fingers and hornwrack. There is some to the north-west and the Crumstone to the south. sponges on the rock surfaces beneath. The steep faces were wreckage at the base of the wall but this is less densely There is deep water around the Outer Farnes and the covered in dead men’s fingers with encrusting worm tubes covered. Crumstone and that is where the majority of the and pink encrusting algae. The lower boulder surfaces were The reef is deeply indented just north of the wreck creating diving is carried out and where most of the records more barren and extensively urchin grazed. CW a pattern of deep gullies with vertical walls through which come from in this survey. the tide runs very swiftly (sketch below). These were The Knifestone The islands are a National Nature Reserve and are densely covered in plumose anemones, elegant anemones, sponges and large barnacles. The northerly facing walls well known for their populations of seabirds and The area surveyed at the Knifestone was also northerly Whirl Rocks were darker and dominated by plumose anemones and Atlantic grey seals. The seas are also within a Marine facing, but is more exposed than the two sites above, lacking Special Area of Conservation (SAC) sponges, whilst the lighter, southerly facing walls were the shelter of adjacent islands. The rock surfaces were less covered in elegant anemones, sponges and barnacles. steep with a gradation from kelp forest, through kelp park to These surveys have been carried out to extend This site is the most diverse and least grazed we have rolling rocky scenery dominated by dead men’s fingers. knowledge of the marine life and habitats in the area. Knifestone found throughout the Farne Islands. Below 20m bcd was a barren plain of large cobbles and All the records have been made by volunteers, most pebbles. Northern Hares using the more detailed Survey form. Megstone Hopper 2005 North Wamses The north side of the Megstone has kelp park in the 2006 shallows, a steep rocky wall to 6.5m bcd and then a 2007 S South Longstone L Bl Lo gently sloping seabed of cobbles and pebbles with a 2008 itt ue ng Bi le C s kelp park cover. Horizontal surfaces were heavily Observation Forms g Ha ap ton Ha rc s e Survey Forms rc ar Pin urchin grazed, whilst there were dead men’s fingers ar na and anemones on the vertical rock. Both seals and cle shags were seen underwater. Gun Rock Gun Rock Megstone CW Pinnacles Gun Rock had a similar profile and range of habitats E Crumstone Longstone to the Megstone. There was kelp forest on the top of Callers Three sites were dived on the southerly end of the reef then a slope, either of wall or large boulders, S Crumstone the Longstone group of islands and rocks. The leading to a gently sloping seabed of shelly gravel, Hopper faces east and has vertical basalt walls cobbles and some small boulders. All surfaces were leading to a flat boulder bottom at 20m bcd. The extensively urchin grazed. walls were densely covered by dead men’s fingers and encrusting worm tubes, and in some The Pinnacles cases, where gullies created areas of stronger This is a relatively sheltered site, both from swell and The Harcars and Blue Caps current, elegant and plumose anemones and tides and is thus often dived when other sites are not sponges. Sites on the south side of this line of The wall at South Longstone was similarly accessible. There is a steep wall from the surface to rocks were relatively gently sloping with 10m bcd with encrusting worms, bryozoans, sponge dominated by dead men’s fingers with a sloping heavily urchin grazed rock and boulder boulder seabed below with horse mussels as well and algae, and frequent dead men’s fingers.

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