RF
Loch Creran
Product Code:
DH1417
Loch Creran, situated at the northern end of the Firth of Lorn, is a typical fjordic sea loch. The site is particularly notable for biogenic reefs of the calcareous tube-worm Serpula vermicularis, which occur in shallow water around the periphery of the loch. This species has a world-wide distribution but the development of reefs is extremely rare; Loch Creran is the only known site in the UK to contain living S. vermicularis reefs and there are no known occurrences of similarly abundant reefs in Europe. Biogenic reefs of the horse mussel Modiolus modiolus, also confined to the shallow sublittoral, occur in the upper basin of the loch. The biogenic reefs increase habitat complexity and are colonised by an abundant and diverse faunal assemblage, including bryozoans, ascidians and sponges. Localised areas of bedrock reef, which support further species-rich assemblages, are also included within the site.
Keywords:
Argyll,
Castle Stalker,
Creran,
Loch Creran,
Summer
For those just seeking a print, click on the link below for more details:
|