Marine Biodiversity Data Portal - NI

Cushendun South, NE Coast.

[Site list for year 1985]

Survey number: 555 Event number: 19850419/21 Date: 1985-04-19 GPS: 55.12400,-6.03500. Depth: 3.5 to 0.2 m. [ View map ]

Site Description: The location is a mixture of large high rock ridges, rock platforms and large and medium boulders, which are in the shade of moderately high cliff. The substrate is sandstone platforms with conglomerate ridges and cliff. The tops of the rock outcrops were above the intertidal, hence the littoral region here was steep and vertical rock. This was also present at the bottom of the cliff. The site chosen for the transect was platform and boulders near the base of the cliff. The platform covered most of the middle and upper shores, although boulders were present at the foot of the cliff and lower shore. The platform was relatively flat on top, although some irregular rock was present. It was slightly higher towards seaward end, and dropped steeply to the lower shore and boulders. The platform sloped gradually to the foot of the cliff, thus providing a lower area for boulders to occupy. The upper shore is an area of small and medium boulders and shingle, which has many green turfs and rock pools, with an apparent freshwater influence. Rock pools, crevices and wet areas are situated on the top of the platform. The vertical faces of the ridges shows a more exposed zonation with Pelvetia (top) to Fucus spiralis (tufted) to patellobarnacle + Ascophyllum (tufted) to patchy Fucus serratus (bottom). Occasionally the uppermost zones are not present and the patellobarnacle extends into the splash zone.

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