Irving, RA, Schofield, AJ and Webster, CJ. Island Studies (1997). Bideford: Lundy Field Society Marine Biological Research at Lundy summarised in Tregelles ( 193 7) and are incorporated into the fljracombejauna andjlora (Tregelles, Palmer & Brokenshire 1946) and the Flora of Devon (Anonymous Keith Hiscock 1952). The first systematic studies of marine ecology at Lundy were undertaken by Professor L.A. Harvey and Mrs C.C. Harvey together with students of Exeter Introduction University in the late 1940s and early 1950s The earliest recorded marine biological studies near to (Anonymous 1949, Harvey 1951, Harvey 1952). These Lundy are noted in the work of Forbes (1851) who took studies again emphasised the richness of the slate dredge samples off the east coast of the island in 1848. shores especially when compared to the relatively The first descriptions of the seashore wildlife on Lundy impoverished fauna on the granite shores. A later are those published in 1853 by the foremost Victorian study (Hawkins & Hiscock 1983) suggested that marine naturalist and writer, P.H. Gosse, in the Home impoverishment in intertidal mollusc species was Friend (reproduced later in Gosse 1865). However, his due to the isolation of Lundy from mainland sources of descriptions are unenthusiastic, reveal nothing unusu­ larvae. al and draw attention to the very few species found on When marine biologists started to use diving the granite shores. There are further brief references to equipment to explore underwater around Lundy at Lundy in the literature of other Victorian naturalists. the end of the 1960s, they discovered rich and diverse Tugwell ( 1856) found the shores rich collecting communities and many rare species leading to a wide grounds and cites the success of a collecting party who range of studies being undertaken, both underwater (with the help of "an able-bodied man with a crowbar") and on the shore, in the 1970s and early 1980s. returned from Lundy in 1851 "laden with all imagin­ Ecological studies resulted in a detailed knowledge able and unimaginable spoils". However, Lundy never of the inshore marine biology of the island and achieved the popularity of the nearby North Devon contributed significantly to understanding of coast amongst Victorian sea-shore naturalists and sig­ sublittoral marine ecology in Britain. More recently, nificant published studies of the marine life of the particularly as Lundy became Britain's first marine island did not appear until the 1930s. nature reserve, surveillance studies have revealed the Each summer between 1934 to 1937, G.F. Tregelles great longevity of many species and their likely irre­ visited Lundy to collect seaweeds. His records are placibility if damaged. Copyright (1997) Lundy Field Society and the author Irving, RA, Schofield, AJ and Webster, CJ. Island Studies (1997). Bideford: Lundy Field Society 166 MARINE BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH AT LUNDY Intertidal marine ecology Rocky slopes As with any island, the different exposures of shores to The great majority of the shoreline around Lundy is of wave action leads to the presence of a wide variety of steep bedrock or stable boulders. The character of communities. These range from those typical of wave­ these shores and the associated flora and fauna are sheltered situations, especially in the Landing Bay, described in the papers by Professor Harvey (cited ear­ where dense algal dominated communities occur, to lier). The patterns of vertical zonation and the abun­ those exposed to the full force of Atlantic gales on the dance of all of the conspicuous species present on four west coast where algae are sparse and colonisation is contrasting shores were described by Hiscock & mainly by limpets, barnacles and low algal turfs. The Hiscock (1980). The main conspicuous species present granite shores also provide a harsh environment for on rocky shores and their zonation on exposed and intertidal species. Granite does not hold water and has sheltered coasts are illustrated in Figs 1 and 2. On few crevices in which species may hide or which may exposed coasts, shores are dominated by limpets and become enlarged into rockpools. barnacles with patches of small mussels. Turfs of erect The only sediment shore on Lundy is in the Landing coralline algae (Corallina o.fflcinalis) occur on the lower Bay and this is of very mobile coarse shingle devoid of shore but other algae are very sparse. On sheltered species which can be seen with the naked eye except shores, brown algae may be extensive and, on the at the strandline where the sandhopper Talitrus salta­ most sheltered shores, there may be significant tor may be found. (The scientific names used in this growths of red foliose algae. paper are those in Howson & Picton in prep. where authorities can be found.). On the lowest tides, Rockpools some sand is exposed below the jetty. This has not yet When left by the tide, rockpools provide an oasis of life been sampled on the shore but probably contains an on an otherwise arid shore. The species present are extension of the communities known from the adjacent mainly those characteristic of the damp lower shore subtidal sediments. but include some specialities. Three southern species Harvey (1951) lists 141 algae and 226 animal of algae which occur at Lundy are especially notable: species for Lundy shores and several other animal Cystosetra tamariscifolia, Bifurcarta bifurcata groups from which the species were not identified. and Janta rubens. The pod-weed, Halidrys siliquosa, also occurs in pools but not elsewhere on the shore and the fine filamentous branching red alga Ceramium nodulosum (= C. rubrum) is especially abundant in Copyright (1997) Lundy Field Society and the author Irving, RA, Schofield, AJ and Webster, CJ. Island Studies (1997). Bideford: Lundy Field Society Yellow and grey lichens (species of Xanthoria. Lecanora. Caloplaca) <M ). Black lichens (Verruca ria maura) c-::·. ) and Me fa rhaphe (=Littorina) neritoides ( 1 ) . J>orphyra linearis (~ ). Lichina pygmaea (~ ). Littorina saxatilis (17 ), Melarhaphe (=Littorina) neritoides. Barnacles (Chthmalus spp.) ("._·.:· ). limpets (Patella spp.) (A). Littorina neglect a (~·:).Meta rhaphe (=Littorina) neritoides. Fucus vesiculosus f. linearis (~). amphipods (lf..vale nils.wni). small mussels (Mytilus edulis) <•>· Encrusting coralline algae, Coral/ina officina/is (""¥' ). beadlct anemones (Actinia equina) (• ). limpets (Patella ulyssiponensis). As above plus sparse Mastocarpus (= Gigartina) +4m stellatus (<4b ). A/aria esculent a (~ ). Himanthalia elonxata (~).keeled tubeworms (Pomatoceros triqueter). Fig l. lllustratlon of zonation on an exposed granite shore on the west coast of Lundy. The descriptions of zonal communities are based on those for Dead Cow Point in Hiscock & Hiscock (1980) and are for major species only. There is overlap lh the distribution of species between zones. Copyright (1997) Lundy Field Society and the author Irving, RA, Schofield, AJ and Webster, CJ. Island Studies (1997). Bideford: Lundy Field Society Flowering plants especially Armeria maritima (JU). Yellow and grey lichens (4)>), Ramalina siliquosa. +12m Black lichens (Verrucaria maura) (-?' ) and Lichina confinis ~11:- ), Melarhaphe (=Littorina) neritoides (' ). Channelled wrack (Pelvetia canaliculata) (a).), spiral wrack (Fucus ~piralis) CJt\), barnacles (Chthamalus spp., Elminius modestus) t::), Littorina saxatilis (9 ). Littorina saxati/is, beadlet anemones (Actinia equina) (• ), dogwhelks (Nucella lapillus) (V), filamentous green algae (Enteromorpha sp.) ({{{). As above plus knotted wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) ~,bladder wrack (Fitcus vesiculosus) (.,4), barnacles (Balanus perforatus), amphipod crustaceans (Hyale nilssoni). As above plus sparse large mussels (Mytilus edulis) (... ), encrusting coralline algae, Coral/ina officina/is ('""''/), dulse Palmaria palma/a ~),serrated wrack (l<ltcus serratus) (#f}), isopod crustaceans (ldotea spp., Dynamene bidentata). As above plus Osmundia (= Laurencia) pinnat~fida ~), Mastocarpus (= Gigartina) stellatus ("'¥'), thong-weed (Himanthalia elongata) (~), flat periwinkles +2m (Littorina obtusata) ( o ), keeled tube-worms (Pomatoceros triqueter), kelp (Laminaria digitata) (~) Fig 2 Illustration of zonation on a sheltered shore on the Landing Bay at Lundy. The descriptions of zonal communities are based those for the north shore of Rat Island in Hiscock & Hiscock (1980) and are for major species only. There is overlap in the distribution of species between zones. Copyright (1997) Lundy Field Society and the author Irving, RA, Schofield, AJ and Webster, CJ. Island Studies (1997). Bideford: Lundy Field Society ISLAND STUDIES 169 pools. Pools, and the damp rocks around them, pro­ Caves vide a habitat for high numbers of the snakelocks The flora and fauna of the many deep intertidal caves anemone Anemonia viridis in the Devils Kitchen and of Lundy is generally unremarkable being mainly of Landing Bay. Blennies (Lipophrys (= Blennius) pholis) barnacles and encrusting calcareous tubeworms. and prawns (Palaemon serratus) also occur in the Small caves around Rat Island do provide a habitat for pools. The flora and fauna of rockpools at the Devils sea anemones and bryozoans not generally seen else­ Kitchen has been surveyed as part of the programme where. The greatest importance from a wildlife point­ of monitoring commenced in 1984 for the then Nature of"view of the majority of caves is probably as pupping Conservancy Council and now continued by English sites for seals. Nature (Fowler & Pilley