Lincolnshire’s Living Sea A photo guide to the marine wildlife of Lincolnshire
Peacock fanworm
Rob Spray
Rob Spray
Neil Aldridge
Grey seal
Common lobster
Protecting Wildlife for the Future
Lincolnshire’s Marine Life Years of exploitation have led to the perception of an empty and lifeless North Sea, but take the time to delve below the surface and you’ll find an astonishing array of weird and wonderful creatures. The undersea landscape off Lincolnshire is characterised by vast sandy plains, stretching far out to sea. What often appears on first glance to be a barren, desert-like wasteland is in fact teeming with life dwelling within and upon the seabed. Moving inland, the Wash is home to extensive mollusc beds, which provide food for both people and wildlife. The following guide provides just a small glimpse of the marine wildlife and habitats that can be found below Lincolnshire’s waves.
Rob Spray
Sand and Gravel Plains Subtidal sand and gravel is the most widespread undersea habitat found within the UK. While the sediments to the west of the UK are derived from shell material, here in the North Sea, sediments are primarily derived from rocky material. What on the surface appears to be a barren wasteland is in fact a unique habitat rich in highly specialised marine life.
These vast plains are the domain of the ‘infauna’. Infauna are categorised as the animals that live within the seafloor sediments as opposed to the water column. Worms, molluscs and crustaceans dominate here, whilst huge shoals of sandeels crowd the waters, diving headfirst into the sediment at the slightest hint of danger. Larger predatory fish, such as cod and thornback ray, scour these marine deserts, hoovering up food from just below the sea floor.
Rob Spray
The Wash The Wash is a large inlet of the North Sea, shared between Lincolnshire in the north and Norfolk in the south. The area is famous for its wildlife, both above and below the waves. It is an area of local economic importance, supporting fisheries for brown shrimp, cockle and mussel. Compared to the surrounding waters, the Wash is relatively sheltered, allowing shellfish to breed, and providing flatfish with a safe nursery ground for their young. These species, alongside the rich fauna of the intertidal mud and sand, help to support an estimated 400,000 wintering wildfowl and waders. Seventeen of these bird species occur in numbers of international importance. The presence of these has resulted in the Wash being designated as a Special Protection Area. Below the waters surface are sloped sandbanks. Burrows within these sandbanks provide an unusual home for lobsters. Species such as peacock worms and sea firs thrive here and provide ‘rich living reefs’. Dense beds of razor shells and brittlestars are also present.
Barrie Wilkinson
Lugworm Arenicola marina This burrowing worm occurs within mud and sand, where densities can often reach up to 150 per m2.
A mosaic of depressions and casts along a sandy shore is evidence that lugworms are feeding just below the surface. Lugworms draw in sediment (resulting in the production of depressions on the sediment surface), remove any organic material from the sediment and then expel the waste, which results in the production of a familiar cast. Lugworm are used regularly as bait by anglers and are said to be a favoured bait for cod. Sion Roberts
Did you know? It is estimated that lugworm can live for an astonishing 5-6 years.
Moon Jellyfish Aurelia aurita This common jellyfish can be seen throughout the summer in coastal waters, occasionally washing up on beaches after strong onshore winds. The most distinctive feature of this species are the presence of four horseshoe shapes visible through the transparent bell. These are in fact reproductive organs. Unlike other jellyfish, the tentacles are relatively short and do not possess a powerful sting.
Richard Whitcombe
Did you know? Jellyfish do not posses any of the following: brain, respiratory, excretory or circulatory systems
Common Hermit Crab Pagurus bernhardus This familiar species is abundant on both rocky and sandy seabeds. While the front half of the crab possesses a calcareous armour, the rear is soft and delicate, meaning it requires some level of protection. Hermit crabs as a result find a discarded, empty shell in which to live, hence their name. As the crab grows bigger it will have to replace the shell accordingly.
Rob Spray
Did you know? A hermit crab will sometimes take on a lodger. Parasitic anemones can often be found attached to the hermitâ€&#x;s shell, while worms may live on, or even inside the shell
Masked Crab Corystes cassivelaunus This distinctive species can be found buried in sediment, from low water to depths of up to 100m. It tunnels backwards using its legs, making a burrow in which to conceal itself.
Sion Roberts
Due to its burrowing nature this species is often overlooked, although their shells may wash ashore after rough weather. If found take some time to look at the crabs antennae, whilst buried these are brought together and act as a respiratory tube. The length of the ‘walking limbs’ (frontal pair of legs) distinguishes males from females. The walking limbs of the male are twice the length of their shell, whilst those of the females are a lot shorter.
Did you know? If you look closely (and use a bit of imagination) the ridges on the shell resemble a human face, hence the name „Masked Crab‟.
Common Cockle Cerastoderma edule The Wash is home to extensive beds of common cockle, which form part of an important local fishery. Cockles live just below the surface of sandy and muddy sediments, rarely burrowing more than 5cm in depth. Cockles inhabit the intertidal region, making them rich pickings for both fishermen and wildlife. They feed by filtering out organic material from the surrounding waters.
Did you know? Cockles are at the mercy of the weather and whole beds can be washed away after storm events.
Sion Roberts
Both male and female cockles occur, although there is little difference between the two. Cockles spawn during the spring. Larvae are planktonic, living in the water column for only a few weeks before settling out on to the seabed to continue their development.
Common Mussel Mytilus edulis Mussels are filter feeding bivalve molluscs, living in extensive colonies in areas of strong tidal flow. They attach themselves to a firm substrate using byssus threads. This strong ‘thread-like’ material is set using the mussels fleshy foot and helps maintain the creatures position on rock surfaces during powerful waves surges. The Wash supports an important mussel fishery with large beds maintained and harvested by local fishermen.
Mark Finn
Did you know? Mussels have many predators; starfish can prize them open, whilst crabs use their strong claws to crush the shell. The mussel does have one defensive trick up its sleeve - if attacked by a dog whelk it can throw out its byssus threads and entangle the unlucky predator.
Hornwrack Flustra foliacea
Despite looking like a seaweed, Hornwrack is in fact a colony of animals belonging to a group known as bryozoans.
Rob Spray
Bryozoans are stationary colonies of tiny animals called zooids. While the majority are specialised for feeding, some zooids function to attach the colony to the substrate, whilst others help with defence. Hornwrack is commonly washed up on the shore. If you find some, take a closer look and you will see the tell-tale mesh-like appearance of a bryozoan. Each little rectangle is in fact an individual zooid.
Did you know? When freshly collected, Hornwrack is said to have the distinctive smell of lemons!
Common Heart Urchin Echinocardium cordatum This species burrows below the surface of sand and can be located anywhere from the intertidal zone to depths of 200m. The urchin feeds by drawing in detritus from the surrounding sediment and spends its entire life living below the surface.
Sion Roberts
Take a walk along the coast after a period of onshore winds and you are likely to find several of these scattered amongst the strandline. Creatures found on the shore, often look ‘bald’, as the outer hair has been lost. For this reason the urchin is often referred to as looking like either a heart or a potato. Did you know? This species of heart urchin is found in all of the worlds oceans.
Lesser Sandeel Ammodytes tobianus The lesser sandeel is a small, silver, eel-like fish and is the most abundant of the five sandeel species found within the North Sea. They form large shoals and are closely associated with sandy seabeds. Sandeels form an extremely important component of North Sea food webs and are preyed upon by mammals, fish and seabirds. Sandeels mature between 1 to 3 years of age. Between December and January, they spawn a single batch of eggs which settle on the sea floor and adhere to sand grains. After several weeks, the eggs hatch into larvae and drift within the current for 1 to 3 months before again, settling on the seafloor.
Mark Thomas
Did you know? Fisheries observations have indicated the Sandeel Ammodytes marinus rarely emerges from the seabed between the months of September and March, except to spawn.
Sand Goby Pomatoschistus minutus
Rob Spray
This small inconspicuous goby inhabits sandy and muddy coastal areas, with juveniles often venturing into estuaries. Breeding occurs in summer, with the eggs being laid under shell and rock. The eggs are guarded by the male. Sand gobies are found throughout UK waters and are easily confused with the common goby.
Did you know? Gobies are one of the largest families of fish in the world with over 2000 species recorded. The family includes some of the smallest known vertebrates, with several species reaching less than 1cm in length when fully grown
Plaice Pleuronectes platessa This familiar fish makes its home on sandy sea floors where their cryptic pattern helps them to camouflage and evade predators. Plaice can be distinguished from other flatfish by the characteristic orange spots on the upper side of the body. All flatfish are born looking like conventional fish with the body positioned vertically and an eye on either side of the head. As development continues, one eye migrates towards the other, resulting in the plaices rather twisted facial expression.
Did you know? Females can lay up to half a million buoyant eggs. Paula Lightfoot
Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Lincolnshire is home to one of England’s largest colony of breeding grey seals. Each winter, over 1100 cow seals arrive at Donna Nook to give birth to a single, white pup. These cows are later joined by some 300 bull seals, all with just one thing on their mind!
Did you know? The scientific name for Grey Seal, Halichoerus grypus means “Hook-nosed Sea Pig”
Paul Carter
The young pup remains with its mother for only 3 weeks and gains an impressive 30kg in weight. The pup is then abandoned and left to fend for itself. For another two weeks or so it will live off its immense fat reserves before hunger forces it out to sea to learn how to fish.
The Future of Marine Conservation Our seas support and enhance our quality of life, providing us with resources (food, oxygen, materials for construction) as well as a place to relax. But what are we doing to protect them for the future? Continued over-exploitation will leave behind a barren wasteland; brightly coloured reefs will become devoid of wildlife; and fish suppers will become a rarity. During 2009 the Marine and Coastal Access Act brought in new laws, allowing the creation of a network of Marine Protected Areas (areas where human activity can be restricted to varying degrees) in English and Welsh inshore and offshore waters. In addition to the UK Act, the Marine (Scotland) Act passed into law in 2010. This has similar objectives to the UK Act and applies to Scottish waters. The final piece of the legislative jigsaw – a Marine Act for Northern Ireland – is expected in 2012. Marine Protected Areas are a tried and tested means of safeguarding important marine habitats and wildlife. They protect wildlife within their boundaries and allow nature to recover and thrive as well as offering some overall benefits to the health of the marine environment as a whole.
The Wildlife Trusts Vision for ‘Living Seas’ The Wildlife Trusts believe that the seas around the UK have the potential to become among the most productive and wildlife-rich on Earth. Within Living Seas: • Wildlife and habitats are recovering from past decline as our use of the seas’ resources becomes environmentally sustainable. • The natural environment is adapting well to a changing climate, and ocean processes are helping to slow down climate change. • People are inspired by marine wildlife and value the sea for the many ways in which it supports our quality of life. The Wildlife Trusts believe it is possible to achieve Living Seas around the UK within 20 years – a single generation – but only if opportunities are seized now to make radical changes. Help us to achieve Living Seas by visiting www.northseawildlife.org.uk and finding out the various ways in which you can get involved.
Find out more about Living Seas by visiting: www.wildlifetrusts.org.uk www.lincstrust.org.uk www.northseawildlife.org.uk
To find out more about undertaking marine life dive surveys visit www.seasearchne.co.uk
Join us on our journey towards Living Seas • Get outside and explore the marine environment, tell others about it or by visiting The Wildlife Trusts websites and learning more about what there is to see and do on the coast, • Send us underwater photographs and stories about the sea, • Visit a coastal nature reserve, • Take part in an event or volunteer survey and help us to gather information highlighting marine wildlife in need of protection, • To receive quarterly newsletters with the latest up-to-date information on The Wildlife Trusts’ North Sea Marine Protected Areas Project, email ‘subscribe’ to marine@ywt.org.uk.
Supported by The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation