NATURAL ENGLAND CHESIL & the FLEET EMS Survey Of

NATURAL ENGLAND

CHESIL & THE FLEET EMS

Survey of Shingle Springline Communities

DATA REPORT

January 2012

Report Prepared by

Lin Baldock & Jon Bass 01305 852585

[email protected] [email protected]

NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...... I

1 INTRODUCTION...... 2

2 SPRING CLASSIFICATION...... 2

3 SPRINGS – MAPPING AND SAMPLING METHODS...... 3

4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION...... 5

5 MONITORING PROTOCOL FOR SHINGLE SPRINGLINE COMMUNITIES ...... 7

6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... 9

7 REFERENCES...... 9

List of Tables

Table 1 Locations of fast springs in the eastern Fleet and sampling points at Langton Hive Point and Clouds Hill. Table 2a List of taxa recorded in Fleet springline communities – 2011 Table 2b Habitat descriptions of Fleet springline communities - 2011 Table 3 List of taxa recorded in Fleet springline communities – historical data

List of Figures Figure 1 Preliminary comparison of community similarities between spring and seep samples in the Fleet (the closer to each other on the plot the more similar the community).

List of Plates

Plate 1 Typical fast flowing spring – eastern Fleet. Plate 2 Fast flowing spring eastern Fleet showing characteristic algal growth where there is flowing water over the pebbles. Plate 3 Pebbles embedded in anaerobic, fine sediment in a non-spring area - eastern Fleet. Plate 4 Pebbles in a seep area in the mid-Fleet cleared of a mat of dead Zostera leaves. Plate 5 Close up of pebbles in a mid-Fleet seep area showing open spaces between pebbles colonised by the bivalve Lasaea rubra. Plate 6 Algal flora typical of fast springs – eastern Fleet. Plate 7 Heavily sedimented pebbles with wracks in a non-spring area – eastern Fleet Plate 8 Location of seep in the mid-Fleet just below the line of halophyte scrub (two sample locations shown). Plate 9 De Folin’s lagoon snail (Caecum armoricum) from an eastern Fleet spring. Plate 10 The cumacean crustacean Nannastacus unguiculatus from an eastern Fleet spring. Plate 11 The amphipod crustacean Eulimnogammarus obtusatus from an eastern Fleet spring.

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bass i January 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

Plate 12 The tanaeid crustacean Apseudes talpa from an eastern Fleet spring. Plate 13 The slit limpet Emarginula conica from an eastern Fleet spring. Plate 14 Chiton (Achanthochitona crinitus) from an eastern Fleet spring. Plate 15 The mollusc Onuba aculeus from a mid-Fleet seep. Plate 16 The hydroid Clava multicornis from a mid-Fleet seep Plate 17 The pulmonate mollusc Auriculinella bidentata from a mid-Fleet seep. Plate 18 The bivalve Lasaea rubra var. pallida from a mid-Fleet seep. Plate 19 De Folin’s lagoon snail Caecum armoricum from a mid-Fleet seep.

List of Video Clips Video 1 Fast flowing spring – eastern Fleet

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bass ii January 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A preliminary survey of Shingle Springline Communities in the Fleet was undertaken in the summer and early autumn of 2011. These springline communities were identified as a qualifying sub-feature of the Chesil and the Fleet European Marine Site by English Nature but the extent of the habitat remained unknown, neither was a methodology for surveying this sub-feature established at that time. The aims of the present project were therefore:

• to develop a sampling methodology for the spring communities, • compare mollusc species found in 2011 with work reported in 1989, • identify other invertebrate species where possible.

Two types of spring, and hence two types of springline community were found to be present on the Chesil Bank shore of the Fleet.

• Fast flowing springs – eastern Fleet • Less active springs (seeps) – western Fleet.

The fast flowing springs are restricted to the eastern Fleet where they appear as discrete areas of fast flowing seawater running out of the beach at about mid-tide level. The pebbles in these areas are not embedded in smooth, ochorous clay nor compacted in anaerobic sediment. Notably these active spring areas are associated with loose, clean pebbles which are very mobile underfoot.

The less active springs (seeps) are located in the mid- and western Fleet. These seeps are not immediately obvious since water does not visibly run out as springs but they can be identified by the fact that they occur in areas of the shore where the pebbles are not compacted by either fine or anaerobic sediment but shift readily underfoot. The location of change between these two “spring” types has not been identified but is likely to be at the transition point in the hydrological system of the Fleet in Butterstreet Cove.

A total of twenty fast flowing springs were identified in the eastern Fleet and three sites with less active springs or seeps were located opposite Langton Hive Point and Clouds Hill. Samples of pebbles from the two spring types were collected using cores and returned to the laboratory for sorting and analysis enabling a characteristic community to be identified for each kind of spring.

The seep community of the mid- and western Fleet was found to support very high densities of de Folin’s lagoon snail (Caecum armoricum) (10,000s m-2) with both adult and juvenile snails being present together with 100,000s m-2 of the small bivalve Lasaea rubra. This compares with C. armoricum densities of a few thousand m-2 reported for sites in Sussex and Kent.

Results of the present survey are tabulated and compared with historical data available on the composition of these special spring communities.

The vulnerability of the spring/seep habitats and communities is discussed and a monitoring protocol for the springs has been elaborated. Guidance was developed to identify the fast flowing springs and the slow seeps along the Chesil Bank shore of the Fleet together with advice on timing and methodology for sampling the communities.

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bass i January 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

1 Introduction A collaborative agreement schedule between Natural England and Ilchester Estates was recently developed to undertake a preliminary survey of Shingle Springline Communities in the Fleet. These springline communities were identified as a qualifying sub-feature of the Chesil and the Fleet European Marine Site by English Nature (1999). In this publication the distribution of these spring communities was shown diagrammatically as extending continuously the full length of the Fleet from Ferrybridge to the Abbotsbury embayment along the Chesil Bank shore. No methodology for surveying this sub-feature was established at that time and the aim of the present study was to evaluate and develop a methodology for mapping and monitoring the springline communities. The aims of the project were:

• to develop a sampling methodology for the spring communities, • compare mollusc species found in 2011 with work reported in 1989, • identify other invertebrate species where possible.

The springline communities were first identified by Dennis Seaward as holding an unusual fauna, particularly molluscs most notably De Folin’s lagoon snail Caecum armoricum. Preliminary results were reported in a number of publications (Seaward, 1987a, 1987b, 1989; Little et al., 1989). However little information was provided at the time on the extent of the springline habitat and reports on the composition of the community are scattered in a few publications and within the grey literature.

The preliminary survey work and development of methodology reported here was carried out by Lin Baldock and Jon Bass over the summer and early autumn of 2011. Information was obtained on the distribution and characteristics of the springs along the length of the Fleet and methods are proposed for monitoring these features and the associated biotic communities in the future.

2 Spring Classification The first task was to identify the springs following the descriptions provided by Seaward (1987a, 1987b) and develop a preliminary map of the distribution of the springs along the Chesil Bank shore of the Fleet. Once the springs had been classified and characterised a sampling strategy was developed to establish the species composition of the associated fauna and flora.

Spring definition It soon became apparent that two types of spring, and hence two types of springline community are present on the Chesil Bank shore of the Fleet.

• Fast flowing springs – eastern Fleet. • Less active springs (seeps) – western Fleet.

The fast flowing springs are restricted to the eastern Fleet (the westward limit is yet to be established) where they appear as discrete areas of fast flowing seawater running out of the beach at about mid-tide level (Plates 1, 2; Video 1). The pebbles in these areas are not embedded in smooth, ochorous clay nor compacted in anaerobic sediment (Plate 3). Notably these active spring areas are associated with loose, clean pebbles which are very mobile underfoot. The pebbles may acquire a thin layer of algae late in the season (Seaward, 1986).

The less active springs (seeps) were originally described by Dennis Seaward for sites on the Chesil Bank opposite Langton Hive Point (Seaward, 1986; 1987a). These ‘seeps’ are best visited after a period of neap tides, when mean water levels in the western Fleet are at their lowest (Robinson, 1981; Robinson et al., 1983). These seeps are not immediately obvious since water does not visibly run out as springs but they can be identified by the fact that they occur in areas of the shore where the pebbles are not compacted by either fine or anaerobic sediment (Plates 4 & 5). As in the eastern Fleet springs, pebbles shift easily

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 2 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______underfoot even though they may lie under a thick layer of dead Zostera leaves. The full extent of this more cryptic spring type (or seep) remains unknown as the current study was limited but confirmed the feature was present on the Chesil Beach side of the Fleet opposite both Langton Hive Point and Clouds Hill.

The location of change between these two “spring” types has not been identified but is likely to be at the transition point in the hydrological system of the Fleet in Butterstreet Cove. West of this point there is a dramatic decrease in the tidal range (see below, from Whittaker, 1981).

Station Spring tide range Neap tide range Chickerel Hive Point 1.12m 0.36m Langton Hive Point 0.18m 0.03m

The salinity regime also changes west of this point: from Ferrybridge to Butterstreet Cove values of 35ppt are typical, while west of here values between 12-30ppt occur in the winter and spring increasing to 24-30ppt in the summer (Whittaker, 1981; Robinson, 1983). A similar situation was demonstrated by Bamber et al. (1990) for samples taken in November.

Salinity (ppt) November Station (Bamber et al. 1990) Seawater Lyme Bay 35.0 Shingle spring water 34.5 Ferrybridge 34.0 Chickerell Hive Point 32.0 Langton Hive Point 25.0

The tidal regime also changes from the typical semi-diurnal pattern in Weymouth Bay with a spring/neap cycle of higher/lower high water and a double low water in the east Fleet to a situation where the semidiel tidal changes are strongly modified by a fortnightly cycle further distorted by the shallow water (Robinson, 1981). Wind direction and barometric pressure can also have a significant effect on water levels in the western Fleet making maximum tidal heights difficult to predict (Robinson et al., 1983).

3 Springs – Mapping and Sampling Methods Fast Flowing Spring Mapping – Eastern Fleet Mapping was undertaken by walking the Chesil Bank shore of the eastern Fleet from Ferrybridge to the Narrows at Wyke Regis during a low spring tide (01/09/11). The spring locations were recorded using non-differential GPS (Datum WGS84) where there was active water flow out of the beach at approximately mid-tide level and where the pebbles and surrounding sediment were clearly not anaerobic.

Fast Flowing Springline Community Sampling - Eastern Fleet Following preliminary trials with spade and trowel it was established that in most situations along the Fleet shore of the Chesil Bank a veneer of mobile pebbles about 10-20cm deep lie above more pebbles embedded in compacted fine sediment which lacks a range of infauna. Active spring areas were typified by a steady flow of water through uncompacted pebbles at about mid-tide level (Video 1) the spaces between pebbles being clear of sediment. These sites had both a highly characteristic infauna among the pebbles and epilithic algal flora at low tide level (Plate 6). Away from active springs the fine, compacting sediment was closer to or right at the pebble surface and in many places was anaerobic with a seaweed flora dominated by wracks (Plate 7).

Samples of pebbles either within the springs or from adjacent areas were collected using a 10cm diameter corer to a depth of 15cm. The corer was pushed into the pebbles using a tee- bar with backward and forward twists until the chosen depth mark was level with adjacent pebbles. In active springs adjacent pebbles were scraped aside and a cap was slid beneath the corer prior to extraction. In areas with no standing water where the pebbles were buried

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 3 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______in compacted sediment the corer, with core intact, was removed without risk of losing any fauna. Material was placed in labelled bags and later washed over a 7mm mesh sieve and the residue washed through a 500µm mesh.

A more extensive qualitative in situ visual search of the spring community was also made with rare species not present in the core samples being collected individually for later identification. The time allocated to this collecting activity should be standardised and the material kept separate from the cores.

Seep Mapping – Western Fleet In the absence of clear visual clues the extent of the less active springs or seeps was not mapped in the western Fleet. Two seep sites were identified on the Chesil Bank side of the Fleet: one opposite Langton Hive Point and the other opposite Clouds Hill.

Seep Community Sampling - Western Fleet Site selection for sampling in the western Fleet was very targeted and in the absence of conspicuous flowing water, was based on the presence of seep-indicator species. These seepage sites were located close to the line of shrubby sea blight (Suaeda vera) but not beneath the scrub and NOT at mid-shore or low water level (Plate 8). The sampling locations on the Chesil Bank shore opposite Langton Hive Point and Clouds Hill were characterised by the following features:

• areas of loose pebbles underfoot (not compacted by fine sand or silt at least in the top 10cm); • located close to the halophyte shrub community, but NOT situated beneath the scrub; • aerobic conditions within the sediment matrix; • the presence of a dense population of the small bivalve Lasaea rubra var pallida (Plate 5) together with the pulmonate mollusc Auriculinella bidentata (Ellobiidae) inhabiting the spaces between the pebbles.

Pebble samples were collected using a 10cm diameter corer to a depth of 15cm. Trial samples were washed and sieved on site to remove pebbles and the fine fraction returned unfixed to the laboratory for further sorting. However, the physical disturbance stimulated production of bysus threads by the small bivalve L. rubra and copious quantities of mucus by A. bidentata which thwarted efficient live-sorting of the smallest fauna in the laboratory using sieves of decreasing mesh size.

The most effective collection method was to wash the contents of the core over a 7mm mesh sieve to remove the pebbles. The fraction passing was then washed through a 500µm sieve and retained on a 250µm mesh. These three fractions were fixed immediately in the field in 75% industrial methylated spirit (IMS) and placed in separate, labelled bags. This treatment prevented the development of the tangle of bysus threads and mucus formed when live material was taken back to the laboratory.

All fine material from each core (retained on 250µm mesh sieve) was scanned, whether alive in seawater or fixed, under x10 magnification after dispersal in a thin layer within a petri-dish. The fraction retained on the 500µm mesh was scanned to confirm that the vast majority of Caecum armoricum had passed through to be retained on the 250µm mesh. All three size fractions were scanned for additional taxa. Only Endecott (quality certified) sieves were used.

Temperature loggers Hobo temperature loggers were deployed for a fortnight both within and adjacent to springs in the eastern Fleet (17th-31st August 2011) and in a seep opposite Langton Hive Point in the western Fleet (9th-20th September 2011), covering spring/neap tide cycles. Some spot- readings for salinity in springs were taken by Natural England staff during the initial site meeting on the shore of the eastern Fleet (18 August 2011). Water temperature data for these two deployment periods are available but not reported here. More detailed temperature and salinity data are required to help identify the source and dynamics of the spring and seep water.

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 4 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______Licensing A licence issued by Natural England to collect and photograph De Folin’s lagoon snail (Caecum armoricum), the species for which these springs are a vital habitat, was held by Lin Baldock. (Licence No 20113964) necessary because of the inclusion of this species on Schedule V of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Consent was given by Natural England for the shingle springline survey to be carried out in the Chesil and the Fleet Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Note on nomenclature Species nomenclature follows Howson & Picton (1997) unless otherwise indicated. In this publication the species listed as Leucophytia bidentata in the historical literature is recognised as Auriculinella bidentata.

A recent review of the nomenclature of non-marine molluscs in Britain (Anderson, 2005) split the genus Ovatella into two genera: Ovatella s.s. and Myosotella with the latter name applied to the British and Irish species. Two species of Myosotella are recognised in the British fauna with Myosotella denticulata occupying fully marine conditions and Myosotella myosotis occurring in estuarine environments. The exact identity of the Fleet population of Myosotella has yet to be established. Reports in the quoted literature refer to this entity as Ovatella myosotis.

4 Results and Discussion Springline Community - Eastern Fleet A total of 20 active springs were identified on the Chesil Bank shore between the Chesil Beach Centre and the eastern end of the Narrows at Wyke Regis (Table 1, Plates 1, 2, Video 1). A list of the fauna and flora found in these springs during the present survey is provided in Table 2. Data collated from the published literature is summarised in Table 3. Some species collected during the survey are illustrated in Plates 9-14.

During the present survey only one live Caecum armoricum was found in the spring samples from the eastern Fleet (Plate 9) together with about 20 long-dead shells. This is consistent with the report by Seaward (1989) who found only one living specimen and a few shells in these springs. Little et al. (1989) identified two faunal communities in the shingle of the eastern Fleet:

• an upper shore community beneath a mat of decaying seagrass trapped among scrubby growths of Sueda vera and Atriplex portulacoides and characterised by the presence of the rare looping snail (Truncatella subcylindrica) and the pulmonate Myosotella denticulata. The lagoon snail Paludinella littorina also occurs regularly in this community (Seaward; 1980; Light, 1986; Killeen & Light, 2002). Little et al. (1989) equated this fauna with the specialist rocky crevice fauna described by Morton (1954) for the upper shore at Wembury (Devon) and they demonstrated that it was unrelated to the presence of springs. • a spring community dominated by the bivalve Lasaea rubra var. pallida (Seaward, 1987a) together with a list of other species including either interstitial lagoon specialists such as Onuba aculeus (Killeen & Light, 1998) (Plate 15) or those not normally found in intertidal habitats for example the slit limpet Emarginula conica (Plate 13) and the chiton Leptochiton asellus (Seaward, 1986). Little et al. (1989) reported a sipunculan which they tentatively identified as Nephasoma minuta occurring commonly in this habitat. Samples collected during the present study indicate that this is likely to be Nephasoma rimicola, a crevice dwelling species originally described from localities around Plymouth as Golfingia (Phascoloides) rimicola and characterised by rings of hooks on the introvert (Gibbs, 1973). Little et al. noted that densities of most species in the springs were very low and not abundant enough to be sampled adequately using cores.

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 5 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______The species list provided in Table 3 collated from historical literature reflects the specialist interests of those undertaking the surveys and is by no means a comprehensive inventory of the taxa present. Notably there are few records for Bryozoa, for example a species of Cribrilinidae, a shingle habitat specialist, has been noted (J. Bishop, pers. com.) but no published records are available. The mites (Acari) and ostracods could also repay further study.

Springline Community - Western Fleet Two locations were identified during the present survey which supported the specialist “spring” (seep) community described by Seaward (1987a; 1987b; 1989) from the western (middle) Fleet: one opposite Langton Hive Point and the other opposite Clouds Hill (Table 1, Plates 4 &5). The extent of this seep habitat was not mapped but it is essentially an intermittent, linear feature running along the Chesil Bank shore just below the halophyte scrub dominated by shrubby seablite (Suaeda vera) with an understorey of sea purslane (Atriplex portulacoides). This unusual plant community is present along almost the entire drift line of the Fleet (Groome & Crowther, 2005). Seaward (1989) estimated that the specialised seep community was present in springs “along about 2km of mid-Fleet shore” but details of the exact extent were not provided at the time. As discussed above this community is only likely to occur west of Butterstreet Cove.

A list of the fauna found within these seeps during the present survey is provided in Table 2 and illustrated in Plates 15-19.

The seeps supported vast numbers of the bivalve Lasaea rubra var pallida (the pale cream form, Plate 18) (100,000s m-2) and high densities of the De Folin’s lagoon snail Caecum armoricum (up to 16,000m-2) (Plate 19), results consistent with the original reports provided by Seaward (1987a; 1987b; 1989) who found "up to 100 Caecum.... present ... in several litre pebble samples" from a mid-Fleet site. Elsewhere in England Pain et al. (2009) collected about 20 living individuals from 10x10x10cm samples of shingle from Pagham Harbour (Sussex) (2,000 m-2) and a “few” from shingle collected from Lydd Army ranges in Kent.

Other characteristic molluscan species recorded during the present survey were the gastropod Onuba aculeus (Plate 15) and the pulmonate snail Auriculinella bidentata (Plate 17). Other fauna included large numbers of nematodes, ostracods and mites. These last two groups are known to include lagoon specialist species recorded during previous studies in the Fleet (eg Cyprideis torosa Whittaker, 1986; Bamber et al., 1990).

Comparison of the Springline Communities An analysis of the preliminary data on community composition of the two habitat types using PRIMER (Clarke & Gorley, 2006) showed the mid-Fleet seep community to be distinctive (Figure 1) while samples taken from the fast flowing springs in the east Fleet were much more variable. This variability in part reflects the limited number of fast spring samples taken and the more patchy nature of the habitat.

Habitat and Community Vulnerability Both springline communities are within the intertidal zone on the sheltered landward side of the Chesil Bank where the scope for physical disturbance by extreme weather events and direct human impacts is quite limited. The springs and seeps could be vulnerable to human activity, particularly trampling leading to the introduction of fine sediment and compaction of the pebbles. Disturbance of the springline sediment structure could take place during bait digging especially in the eastern Fleet (Plate 1) although the active movement of water through the pebbles may make these sites a less attractive target for bait diggers.

The communities would also be at risk from a pollution incident whether arising in Portland Harbour (an oil spill is a possible scenario) or from one of the stream inputs to the Fleet (eg elevated nutrient release or chemical spill). In common with other intertidal habitats, the most likely pollution risks include oil-spills and other contaminants held in the water surface film. If such materials arrive they are likely to be flushed in and out of these spring sediments and seeps during tidal water movements restricting scope for decontamination and influencing

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 6 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______natural recovery processes. Emergency plans to contain and recover accidental oils spills should take account of risks to the springline community if oil threatens to enter the Fleet.

Light (2007) expressed the view that a passive threat to populations of Paludinella littorina (and in our opinion many other small, cryptic species) “is the paucity of biologists and biological consultants, volunteer workers, and conservation agency staff with the requisite knowledge to find [these species] in the field”. Additionally, the retention of Caecum armoricum on Schedule V of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (which provides complete protection for the species) following the last quinquennial review (Defra, 2011) is considered to be counter productive (Willing, 2011). This species is most endangered by habitat loss or degradation as opposed to survey work and collection and keeping it on the Schedule V list imposes unnecessary obstacles to those wishing to survey and monitor the species.

The permanence of these spring and seep locations is not known and nothing is known about the source of the water for the springs/seeps although there has been plenty of speculation over the years. Nor is the mechanism understood as to how the seep areas remain clear of sediment with an aerobic environment maintained while in adjacent stretches of shore the interstitial spaces between the pebbles are filled with very fine clay or anaerobic sediment. There is a complex patchwork of sedimentary habitats along the Chesil Bank shore of the Fleet influencing the distribution of discrete springs.

5 Monitoring Protocol for Shingle Springline Communities

Mapping of Springline Habitats The locations and extent of the two springline community types need to be mapped along the Chesil Bank shore of the Fleet. Walk-over surveys using a hand-held GPS should be carried out mapping the distribution of the two community types:

• fast flowing springs – eastern Fleet to approximately Butterstreet Cove • slow seeps – mid- and western Fleet from Butterstreet Cove north west.

Measure • number of fast flowing springs in the eastern Fleet (exact extent of the survey area needs to be determined). • length of shore with seeps in the mid- and western Fleet.

Target No decrease in extent or distribution of the habitat.

Sampling of Springline Faunal Communities The sampling regime for the two spring types is inevitably different. It must be borne in mind that both types of springline communities are restricted features and extensive, quantitative sampling which is necessarily very disruptive should be avoided. We suggest that a limited number of cores be taken at one or two sites carefully selected to fit the descriptions of the two communities provided above. It is highly likely that these springs and seeps are not permanent features but move around along the beach. Slavishly sampling at a fixed GPS location would be inappropriate if it is clear that the habitat no longer qualifies as a spring or seep. Sediment cores should be supplemented by a careful search in the field for other rare species included on the list (Table 2a). Little at al., (1989) noted that numbers of most species occurring in the springs of the eastern Fleet were very low and not abundant enough to be sampled adequately using cores.

Sampling points that appear representative of optimal habitat for the springline or seep communities should be selected, based on an initial assessment of the habitat and field observations of the presence and distribution of common key species known to be representative of these communities.

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 7 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______The location of each sample should be recorded using a hand held GPS unit with the following additional attributes assessed at the sampling site:

• approximate position within the intertidal zone; • depth of water table within the pebbles, • pebble stability, in terms of susceptibility to yield underfoot • degree of fine sediment infill around pebbles; • depth below which fine sediment is compacted and fills interstitial spaces between pebbles.

Habitat characteristics to identify fast flowing springs and seeps in the Fleet

Fast flowing springs Seeps Location within the Fleet Fleet south east of Fleet north west of (approximate) Butterstreet cove Butterstreet Cove Upper shore adjacent to Location down shore Mid- to lower shore halophyte scrub Sediment type Loose, uncompacted pebbles Loose, uncompacted pebbles Aerobic sediment but may be Aerobic sediment not buried under a mat of dead covered by macro-algae Zostera Clear evidence of surface No evidence on undisturbed Visual cues water flow pebbles Moderate numbers of 10,000s of Lasaea rubra Cingula cingillus, Littorina attached to pebble surfaces Fauna saxatilis, Lasaea rubra and a with frequent Leucophytia range of other taxa on and bidentata. Other taxa not between pebbles. prominent in the field. Characteristic macro-algae at Flora low water mark. May be No distinctive taxa. covered by an algal film. Sampling Season September September Site Access Spring tides Neap tides

Sampling methodology for Caecum armoricum adapted recommendations by Pain et al. (2009) for collecting the species. Pebble samples should be collected as follows:

• Core samples to be taken using a circular core (diameter 10cm, area 0.008m2) to a depth of 15cm. The minimum core size is dictated by the size of the pebbles which are to be sampled. Not more than two cores to be taken within one spring or seep. • Pass core sample through 7mm sieve to remove the pebbles, the fraction passing to be washed through 500µm mesh over a 250µm sieve retaining the two fine fractions separately. • Fix all three separate sub-samples immediately in the field in 75% IMS. Failure to do this will make efficient separation of C. armoricum from the >500µm fraction impossible, especially in samples from the mid-Fleet seeps. • Preserved samples to be returned to the laboratory for sorting and enumeration. • The abundance of Caecum armoricum in the seep community in the mid- and western Fleet only should be determined. Live-collected individuals, recently dead and long dead shells should be distinguished as well as adults and juveniles <1mm in length with protoconch still attached. Counts of individuals need to be made in small sub samples of material spread thinly in petri dishes at x10 (or higher) magnification. • Other components of the fauna should be noted together with an approximate estimate of abundance (m-2) for each taxon classified using a logarithmic scale: 1 in sample, 2-10, 11-100, 101-1000, >1000.

Sorting and enumeration of fauna is very time consuming and it may be necessary to consider sorting a known proportion of the total sample, particularly when samples contain large amounts of fine material retained on the 250µm sieve.

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 8 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

Measure • Number of species (taxa) • Abundance (numbers m-2) of Caecum armoricum

Target • Number and composition of associated taxa should not decrease or change markedly • Density of Caecum armoricum should not decrease.

Unacceptable change can be defined as a decline in abundance or disappearance of the species from the site. Given the difficulties of obtaining enough replicate quantitative samples for robust population estimates and the overall lack of knowledge of population densities for small, highly cryptic mollusc species it has been suggested by Light & Killeen (2001) in this case for Paludinella littorina, that if the species cannot be found on three consecutive visits to a site within one survey window there may be cause for concern. Such an approach might be applicable to monitoring populations of C. armoricum.

Timing In terms of assessing the population densities of C. armoricum the middle of September would appear to be a good time to undertake the survey. High densities of the mollusc were recorded and all life stages were present on dates in both late August and September 2011. Seaward (1989) recorded adults in all months between April and October and in December with juveniles present in June.

Site access is best achieved during low water on spring tides for the fast flowing springs in the eastern Fleet and during neap tides in the mid- and western Fleet when water levels are at their lowest for a period of several days (Robinson et al., 1983)

6 Acknowledgements • Don Moxom, Ilchester Estates helped with access to the survey locations. • Natural England personnel assisted with the initial sampling programme. • Jan Light provided helpful advice on sampling habitats for small, highly cryptic mollusc species. • Hobo temperature loggers were loaned to the project by the Wessex Chalk Stream & Rivers Trust.

7 References Anderson, R. 2005. An annotated list of the non-marine Mollusca of Britain and Ireland. Journal of Conchology 38, 607-637. Baldock, L. 2011. Chesil and the Fleet EMS, Tidal Rapids Monitoring. Report to Natural England, 39pp. Bamber, R., Bridgewater, N. and Batten, S. (1990). A Fleeting visit on 14 November 1990. Porcupine Newsletter 4, 244-245. Clarke K.R, and Gorley, R.N. 2006. PRIMER v6: User Manual/Tutorial. PRIMER-E, Plymouth. English Nature 1999. Chesil and the Fleet European marine site. English Nature’s advice given under Regulation 33(2) of the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994. English Nature, 55pp. Defra 2011. Summary of Responses to the Consultation on the Fifth Quinquennial Review of Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Governments’ Decisions. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Government. Gibbs, P.E. 1973. On the genus Golfingia (Sipuncula) in the Plymouth area with a description of a new species. Journal of the Marine Biological Association, UK, 53, 73-86.

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 9 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______Groome, G., and Crowther, K. 2005. National vegetation classification of Annex I listed habitats at Chesil and the Fleet SAC, Dorset. Report to English Nature. Hayward, P.J. 1985. Ctenostome Bryozoans. Keys and notes for the identification of the species. Synopses of the British Fauna, (New Series) No 33. D.M. Kermack & R.S.K. Barnes (eds). Linnean Society and Estuarine and Brackish-Water Sciences Association Brill & Backhuys, London, 169pp. Howson, C.M. and Picton, B.E. 1997. The Species Directory of the marine flora and fauna of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Ulster Museum and Marine Conservation Society. Killeen, I.J. and Light, J.M. 1998. Observations on Onuba semicostata and O. aculeus around British and northern French coasts. Journal of Conchology 36, 7-12. Killeen, I.J. and Light, J.M. 2002. The status, distribution and ecology of Paludinella littorina (delle Chiaje, 1828) (Gastropoda: Assimineidae) in the British Isles. Journal of Conchology 37, 551-561. Light, J. 1986. Paludinella littorina living along the Fleet, Dorset. Journal of Conchology, 32, 260. Light, J. 2007. Monitoring invertebrate features on SSSi’s: Lagoon snail at Broad Haven, Pembrokeshire. CCW Science Contract No 771. Light J.M. & Killeen I.J. 2001. Survey to elucidate the distribution of the Lagoon Snail Paludinella littorina in England. English Nature Research Reports No. 436. English Nature, Peterborough. 46pp. Little, C., Morritt, D., Seaward, D.R. and Williams, G.A. 1989. Distribution of intertidal molluscs in lagoonal shingle (the Fleet, Dorset, UK). Journal of Conchology 33, 225- 232. Manuel, R.L. 1981. British Anthozoa. Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series) No. 18. Kermack, D.M. & Barnes, R.S.K. (eds) The Linnaean Society and Estuarine and Brackish-Water Sciences Association, Academic Press, London, 241pp. Morton, J.E. 1954. The crevice fauna of the upper intertidal zone at Wembury. Journal of the Marine Biological Association, UK, 33, 187-224. Pain, C, Wilkinson, S. and Light J. 2009. Two further UK sites for Caecum armoricum, de Folin, 1869, formerly known only in the Fleet, Dorset, as a member of the interstitial "spring" community. Journal of Conchology 39, 779-780. Robinson, I.S. 1981. Tides and water levels in the Fleet. In: The Fleet and Chesil Beach: structure and biology of a unique coastal feature, M. Ladle (ed.), Dorset County Council, pp 23-31. Robinson, I.S. 1983. A tidal flushing model of the Fleet – an English tidal lagoon. Journal of Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 16, 669-688. Robinson, I.S , Warren, and Longbottom 1983. Sea level fluctuations in the Fleet, an English tidal lagoon. Journal of Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 16, 651-668. Seaward, D.R. 1980. The marine molluscs of the Fleet, Dorset. Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Proceedings 100, 100-108. Seaward, D.R. 1986. The Fleet, Dorset – a saline lagoon with special reference to its molluscs. Porcupine Newsletter, 3, 140-146. Seaward, D.R. 1987a. Lasaea rubra in an unusual habitat, the Fleet, Dorset. Journal of Conchology, 32, 387. Seaward, D.R. 1987b. Caecum armoricum de Folin 1869, new to the British marine molluscan fauna, living in the Fleet, Dorset, within an unusual habitat. Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Proceedings 109, 165. Seaward, D.R. 1989. Caecum armoricum (Prosobranchia: Rissoacea) new to the British marine fauna. Journal of Conchology, 33, 268. Whittaker, J.E. 1981. The hydrology of the Fleet. In: The Fleet and Chesil Beach: structure and biology of a unique coastal feature, M. Ladle (ed.), Dorset County Council, pp 15- 22. Whittaker, J.E. 1986. The distribution of ostracods in the Fleet, Dorset. Porcupine Newsletter, 3, 135-139. Willing, M.J. 2011. Molluscs. In: A. Branson (ed.) Wildlife Reports. British Wildlife, 23, 57-60.

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 10 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

TABLES

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 11 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

Table 1 Locations of fast springs in the eastern Fleet and sampling points in seeps at Langton Hive Point and Clouds Hill. (Datum: WGS84)

Survey Date Location Spring type Latitude Longitude 31-Aug-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.033' N 002º 28.75' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 34.986' N 002º 28.679' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.032' N 002º 28.748' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.108' N 002º 28.864' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.122' N 002º 28.891' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.129' N 002º 28.911' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.132' N 002º 28.915' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.143' N 002º 28.932' W 01-Sep-11* Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.175' N 002º 28.987' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.202' N 002º 29.043' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.231' N 002º 29.079' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.236' N 002º 29.088' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.243' N 002º 29.095' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.246' N 002º 29.101' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.258' N 002º 29.119' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.309' N 002º 29.227' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.385' N 002º 29.324' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 35.395' N 002º 29.344' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 34.911' N 002º 28.557' W 01-Sep-11 Eastern Fleet Fast flowing spring 50º 34.876' N 002º 28.502' W 26-Aug-11 Langton Hive Point Seep 50º 37.780' N 002º 33.609' W 26-Aug-11 Langton Hive Point Seep 50º 37.677' N 002º 33.468' W 20-Sep-11 Clouds Hill Seep 50º 38.374' N 002º 34.886' W

* anaerobic about 5cm below surface, border line qualifier

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 12 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Table 2a Chesil & the Fleet EMS List of taxa recorded in Fleet springline communities - 2011 Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

Sample date 18/08/2011 18/08/2011 18/08/2011 18/08/2011 18/08/2011 26/08/2011 26/08/2011 Location Black Hut T1 Black Hut T1 Black Hut T1 Black Hut T2 Black Hut T2 Langton Hive Langton Hive Site T1 T1 T1 T2 T2 Site 1 Site 1b Gnathis juv Crustacea Isopoda - p - - - - - Apseudes talpa Crustacea Tanaidacea ------Nannastacus unguiculatus Crustacea Cumacea ------Carcinas maenas Crustacea Decapoda ------

Chironomidae Insecta o ------

Mollusca Mollusca - - - - none alive - - Achanthochitona crinitus Mollusca Polyplacophora ------Chiton red foot Mollusca Polyplacophora ------Caecum armoricum Mollusca Gastropoda - - - 1 - 210 5 Caecum armoricum Adult dead Mollusca Gastropoda - - - 20 long dead - 1350 26 Caecum armoricum Juv alive Mollusca Gastropoda - - - - - 19 2 Caecum armoricum Juv dead Mollusca Gastropoda - - - - - 6 - (3) Cingula cingillus Mollusca Gastropoda - - f f - p a Auriculinella bidentata Mollusca Gastropoda o - dead dead - 20 f Littorina cf saxatilis Mollusca Gastropoda - - r f - - - (4) Onuba aculeus Mollusca Gastropoda f - r - - 2 o Paludinella littorina Mollusca Gastropoda r ------Rissoa sp ?parva Mollusca Gastropoda - - - dead - - - Skenea sp Mollusca Gastropoda - - - - - r - Truncatella subcylindrica Mollusca Gastropoda f - - dead - - - Akera bullata Mollusca Gastropoda ------Littorina saxatilis v tenebrosa Mollusca Gastropoda ------Patella sp Mollusca Gastropoda ------Rissoa membranacea Mollusca Gastropoda ------Emarginula conica Mollusca Gastropoda ------Lasaea rubra v pallida Mollusca Pelecypoda p - some brooding dead - sa c Cerastoderma glaucum Mollusca Pelecypoda ------

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 14 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Table 2a Chesil & the Fleet EMS List of taxa recorded in Fleet springline communities - 2011 Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

Sample date 18/08/2011 18/08/2011 18/08/2011 18/08/2011 18/08/2011 26/08/2011 26/08/2011 Location Black Hut T1 Black Hut T1 Black Hut T1 Black Hut T2 Black Hut T2 Langton Hive Langton Hive Site T1 T1 T1 T2 T2 Site 1 Site 1b (5) Bowerbankia gracilis (pink embryos) Bryozoa ------Bowerbankia sp (yellow embryos) Bryozoa - - - - - o - Electra monostachys Bryozoa ------p Encrusting bryozoa indet Bryozoa - - p - - - -

Amphipholis squamata Echinodermata ------Asterina gibbosa Echinodermata ------

Acualocanthus ?? Rhodophycota ------Ceramium sp Rhodophycota ------Grateloupia turuturu Rhodophycota ------Fucus spiralis Chromophycota ------Fucus vesiculosus Chromophycota ------Ulva spp Chlorophycota - - - - Dense mat - -

Notes (1) – Most likely this species although Little et al. (1989) recorded Nephanosoma minuta in this habitat. (2) – Most likely this species which occurs typically in intertidal, clean, coarse gravel sediments, although Bamber et al. (1990) recorded Chaetogammarus stoerensis a species normally associated with freshwater runoff over clean gravel shores. (3) – the white form of this species (4) – See Killeen & Light (1998) for the accurate identification of this species from Onuba semicostata which is more widely distirbuted. (5) – Hayward (1985) states that material identified as Bowerbankia gracilis from Poole had pink embryos, while samples from Swansea had yellow embryos. Gel electrophoresis demonstrated the existence of two distinct species.

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 15 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Table 2a Chesil & the Fleet EMS List of taxa recorded in Fleet springline communities - 2011 Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

Sample date 26/08/2011 31/08/2011 01/09/201120/09/2011 20/09/2011 20/09/2011 20/09/2011 Location Langton Hive Black Hut Wpt 412 Clouds Hill Langton Hive Langton Hive Langton Hive Site Site 2

Foraminifera Protozoa - p - p p p c Coliphorina (blue) Protozoa, Ciliophora ------Gromiidae Protozoa, Rhizopoda p r - p f o - Porifera indet Porifera - - p - - - -

Anemone indet Cnidaria p - p r - - - Anemonia viridis Cnidaria - - p - - - - Clava multicornis Cnidaria athecate hydroid p - - - r - -

?Lineus ruber Nemertea - p - - o o -

Gastrotricha indet Gastrotricha p ------

Nematoda indet Nematoda c o - f f f f

Nephanosoma rimicola Sipuncula - o p - - - -

Nephtys sp Annelida Polychaeta - - p - - - - Polychaetes indet Annelida Polychaeta - - p - - - - Spirorbidae Annelida Polychaeta - - p - - - - Terebellidae Annelida Polychaeta - - p - - - - Oligochaete Annelida Oligochaete - p p p p o 50

Acari indet Chelicerata Acari p - - r p r 1

Copepods Crustacea Copepoda ------Harpacticoid copepods Crustacea Copepoda - - - p p - 1 Verruca stroemia Crustacea Cirripedia - - p - - - - Ostracoda Crustacea Ostracoda - p - - c c o Eulimnogammarus obtusatus Crustacea Amphipoda - - p - - - -

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 16 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Table 2a Chesil & the Fleet EMS List of taxa recorded in Fleet springline communities - 2011 Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

Sample date 26/08/2011 31/08/2011 01/09/201120/09/2011 20/09/2011 20/09/2011 20/09/2011 Location Langton Hive Black Hut Wpt 412 Clouds Hill Langton Hive Langton Hive Langton Hive Site Site 2 Anthura gracilis Crustacea Isopoda - r - - - - - Gnathis juv Crustacea Isopoda ------Apseudes talpa Crustacea Tanaidacea - - p - - 4 34 Nannastacus unguiculatus Crustacea Cumacea - r - - - - - Carcinas maenas Crustacea Decapoda - - p - - - -

Chironomidae Insecta ------

Mollusca Mollusca ------Achanthochitona crinitus Mollusca Polyplacophora - r p - - - - Chiton red foot Mollusca Polyplacophora - r - - - - - Caecum armoricum Mollusca Gastropoda 10 - - 125 131 12 9 Caecum armoricum Adult dead Mollusca Gastropoda 35 2 - 82 303 140 64 Caecum armoricum Juv alive Mollusca Gastropoda 12 - - 5 15 - - Caecum armoricum Juv dead Mollusca Gastropoda - - - 3 15 - - Cingula cingillus Mollusca Gastropoda p o - dead dead - - Auriculinella bidentata Mollusca Gastropoda dead - - o o - - Littorina cf saxatilis Mollusca Gastropoda - - - dead - - - (4) Onuba aculeus Mollusca Gastropoda o r - 4 p 8 4 Paludinella littorina Mollusca Gastropoda - - - dead - - - Rissoa sp ?parva Mollusca Gastropoda ------Skenea sp Mollusca Gastropoda - r - - o - - Truncatella subcylindrica Mollusca Gastropoda ------Akera bullata Mollusca Gastropoda - - - dead - - - Littorina saxatilis v. tenebrosa Mollusca Gastropoda - - - dead - - - Patella sp Mollusca Gastropoda - - p - - - - Rissoa memb Mollusca Gastropoda - - - dead - - - Emarginula conica Mollusca Gastropoda - o p - - - - Lasaea rubra v pallida Mollusca Pelecypoda f o (few alive) - sa sa f c Cerastoderma glaucum Mollusca Pelecypoda - - - dead - - -

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 17 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Table 2a Chesil & the Fleet EMS List of taxa recorded in Fleet springline communities - 2011 Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

Sample date 26/08/2011 31/08/2011 01/09/201120/09/2011 20/09/2011 20/09/2011 20/09/2011 Location Langton Hive Black Hut Wpt 412 Clouds Hill Langton Hive Langton Hive Langton Hive Site Site 2

53) Bowerbankia gracilis (pink embryos) Bryozoa - - - f - - - Bowerbankia sp (yellow embryos) Bryozoa p p p - - - - Electra monostachys Bryozoa - - p - - - - Encrusting bryozoa indet Bryozoa ------

Amphipholis squamata Echinodermata - r p - - - - Asterina gibbosa Echinodermata - - p - - - -

?Acualocanthus Rhodophycota - - p - - - - Ceramium sp Rhodophycota - - p - - - - Grateloupia turuturu Rhodophycota - c p - - - - Fucus spiralis Chromophycota - - p - - - - Fucus vesiculosus Chromophycota - - p - - - - Ulva spp Chlorophycota - - p - - - -

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 18 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Table 2b Chesil & the Fleet EMS Habitat descriptions of Fleet springline communities - 2011 Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

Date 18/08/2011 18/08/2011 18/08/2011 18/08/2011 18/08/2011 26/08/2011 26/08/2011 26/08/2011 31/08/2011 01/09/2011 20/09/2011 20/09/2011 20/09/2011 20/09/2011 Black Hut Black Hut Black Hut Black Hut Black Hut Langton Langton Langton Langton Langton Location Black Hut Wpt 412 Clouds Hill T1 T1 T1 T2 T2 Hive Hive Hive Hive Hive Site T1 T1 T1 T2 T2 Site 1 Site 1b Site 2 Pebbles Mid-shore at over Tangled top of fucoid compacted green alga zone. Loose Loose Loose Loose Loose Strand line ochorous Pebbles Weed rich ?Chaet Pebbles pebbles with pebbles but Spring with pebbles with pebbles with pebbles with shingle clay. No over lower shore linum. Much Habitat (7cm) over Lasaea with fewer strong flow Clean gravel Lasaea Lasaea Lasaea beneath surface compacted (Ulva spp), organic East lower description compacted rubra under Lasaea and and dense spring rubra under rubra under rubra under decayed water. sand. Mid- with running debris. gravel mat of abundant Ulva sp mat of mat of mat of Zostera Water table shore water About 5cm (3mm) water Zostera Cingula Zostera Zostera Zostera at 40cm. above water flowing over Approx mid- level in Fleet shingle. shore

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 19 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Table 2b Chesil & the Fleet EMS Habitat descriptions of Fleet springline communities - 2011 Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bas 19 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______Table 3 List of taxa recorded in Fleet springline communities – historical data

Mid-Fleet Eastern Ferrybridge Location Eastern Fleet springs Fleet shingle spring Spring shingle and Springs in Habitat Seeps Spring sediment shingle Sheader in Seaward Little et al. Bamber et al. Data source Seaward (1986) (1989) (1989) (1990) Protozoa Foraminifera Nonion germanicum - - - c Elphidium williamsoni - - - f

Cnidaria - - - - Anemonia viridis a - - - (2) Scolanthus calimorphus c - - - Anemones indet - - f -

Nematodes - - - c

Nemerteans - - - - Cephalothrix linearis - - - 1 cf Prosorhochmus claparedii - - - 1

Sipuncula - - - - Golfingia elongata - - r c Nephasoma minuta - - c -

Annelida - - - - Enchytraeidae indet Enchytraeidae - - - 1 Pomatoceros lamarcki Serpulidae - - - c Janua pagenstecheri Spirorbidae - - - c Circeis amoricana Spirorbidae - - - c Capitella capitata Capitellidae o - - - Tubificoides (Peloscolex) benedeni Tubificidae a - - - Platyneris dumerilli Nereididae o - - - Polycirrus aurantiacus Terebellidae c - - - Polychaeta indet Polychaeta - - f -

Acari - - - - 1) Thalassarachna baltica( - - - 1 (1) Agaue cf chevreuxi - - - f

Crustacea - - - - (1) Ostracoda indet (Bairdiacea) - - - 1 Athanus nitescens Alpheidae o - - - Aora gracilis Amphipoda o - - - (1) Chaetogammarus stoerensis Amphipoda - - - f Corophium sextona Amphipoda a - - - Dexamine spinosa Amphipoda o - - - Gammarella fucicola Amphipoda c - - - Gammarus locusta Amphipoda a - - - Lembos websteri Amphipoda c - - - Maera grossimana Amphipoda a - - - Microdeutopus anomalus Amphipoda c - - - Orchestia gammarellus Amphipoda a - - -

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bass 20 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

Mid-Fleet Eastern Ferrybridge Location Eastern Fleet springs Fleet shingle spring Spring shingle and Springs in Habitat Seeps Spring sediment shingle (3) Seaward Little et al. Bamber et al. Data source Sheader in Seaward (1986) (1989) (1989) (1990) Stenothoe monoculoides Amphipoda c - - - Caprella acanthifera Caprellidae c - - - Phitisica marina Caprellidae c - - - Carcinas maenas Decapoda c - - 1 Inachus dorsettensis Decapoda o - - - Jaera sp Isopoda o - - - Paragnathia formica Isopoda - - o S Apseudes talpa Tanaidacea o - - -

Mollusca - - - - Leptochiton asellus Polyplacophora - - r - Bittium reticulatum Gastropoda - - r - Brachysomia eulimoides Gastropoda - - r - Caecum armoricum Gastropoda - f r - Calyptraea chinensis Gastropoda - - o - Cingula cingillus Gastropoda - - o - Cingula semistriata Gastropoda - - r - Crepidula fornicata Gastropoda - - r - Emarginula conica Gastropoda - - o - Littorina saxatilis Gastropoda - - o - Odostomia plicata Gastropoda - - r - Onuba aculeus Gastropoda - f o - Onuba semicostata Gastropoda - - - c Skenea serpuloides Gastropoda - - r - Turbonilla lactea Gastropoda - - r - Gastropoda, Leucophytia bidentata - - r - Pulmonata Cochlodesma praetenue Pelecypoda - - r - Kellia suborbicularis Pelecypoda - - f c Lasaea rubra v pallida Pelecypoda - a f c Mysella bidentata Pelecypoda - - r - Mytilus edulis Pelecypoda - - r - Notirus irus Pelecypoda - - r -

Bryozoa - - - - Electra monostachys - p - - Bowerbankia sp - p - -

Notes (1) – Bamber et al. (1990) noted these taxa as being interesting records (2) – Scolanthus callimorphus is a rare species of anemone for which Weymouth Bay is the type locality (Manuel, 1981). It was not recorded during the present survey in intertidal sites but was found to be frequent in subtidal habitats in the Narrows (Baldock, 2011). (3) – It is not clear exactly where these samples were taken and given the species composition they were likely to have included non-spring habitats within the shingle.

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bass 21 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

FIGURES

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bass 22 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

Figure 1 Preliminary comparison of community similarities between spring and seep samples in the Fleet (the closer the sites on the plot the more similar the community).

Transform: Presence/absence Resemblance: S17 Bray Curtis similarity

2D Stress: 0.1 Habitat

BH Upper shingle BH Compacted shingle Low spring BH Loose Lasaea seep Mid-shore seep LHLH LH Fast spring CH LH BH LH LH

(BH- Black Hut, LH – Langton Hive, CH – Clouds Hill)

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bass 23 Janaury 2012 NATURAL ENGLAND Chesil & the Fleet EMS Survey of Shingle Springlines Communities ______

PLATES

______Lin Baldock & Jon Bass 24 Janaury 2012