MBDP-NI: The Drop Off, Strangford Lough

Place name : The Drop Off, Strangford Lough. County : Down

Date : 2024-11-03 GPS : 54.39043,-5.57897. Depth : -8.0 to -45.0 m. [ View map ]

Site Description : Very tide-swept faunal communities; circalittoral bedrock and boulders with soft corals. Soft corals all closed up for winter.

Fluted sea squirts Ascidiella aspersa [00:00:44]; Common sunstar Crossaster papposus [00:00:54]; Common sea urchin Echinus esculentus [00:01:17]; Soft coral Alcyonium digitatum [00:02:09]; Brown crab Cancer pagurus [00:03:11]; Common lobster Homarus Gammarus [00:03:38]; Boring sponge Cliona celata [00:04:11]; Spiny starfish Marthasterias glacialis [00:04:49]; Velvet swimming crab Necora puber [00:05:19]; Pink volcano sponge Haliclona viscosa [00:06:15]; Hydroid Amphisbetia operculata on kelp [00:07:02]; Hydroid Sertularia argentea [00:07:10]; Forest kelp Laminaria hyperborea [00:08:04].

Species list (36 species recorded):

Biotope 1 : Very tide-swept faunal communities; circalittoral bedrock and boulders with soft corals

PORIFERA
Pachymatisma johnstonia R
Cliona celata F
Amphilectus fucorum R
Haliclona indistincta R
Haliclona viscosa O
CNIDARIA
Abietinaria abietina O
Sertularia argentea O
Nemertesia antennina F
Alcyonium digitatum C
Actinothoe sphyrodeta O
Caryophyllia smithii O
ANNELIDA
Filograna implexa O
CRUSTACEA
Balanus crenatus S
Homarus gammarus O
Cancer pagurus F
Necora puber F
MOLLUSCA
Calliostoma zizyphinum O
BRYOZOA
Alcyonidium diaphanum F
Scrupocellaria sp. O
Parasmittina trispinosa F
Schizomavella linearis O
Cellepora pumicosa O
ECHINODERMATA
Crossaster papposus F
Henricia oculata O
Marthasterias glacialis O
Echinus esculentus A
TUNICATA
Aplidium punctum R
Diplosoma sp. O
Lissoclinum perforatum R
Ascidiella aspersa A
Ascidia mentula O
Dendrodoa sp. R
Botryllus renierii R
PISCES
Trisopterus minutus O
Centrolabrus exoletus R
Ctenolabrus rupestris O

Marine Biodiversity Data Portal - NI