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The fauna of sandy beaches in Orkney: a review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

S. M. Atkins ,
A. M. Jones  and
J. A. Simpson
S. M. Atkins
Affiliation:
Orkney Marine Biology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN
A. M. Jones
Affiliation:
Orkney Marine Biology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN
J. A. Simpson
Affiliation:
Orkney Marine Biology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN
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Synopsis

The physical and biological characteristics of a variety of sandy shores in Orkney are described using transect data from 7 sites within Scapa Flow and 7 sites from the Mainland and North Isles. Shore profiles are described and discussed, shores ranging in length from 80 m to 1200 m. Median grain size of the sediments was generally between 180 and 300 μm (fine to medium grade sands) and the sediments were very clean. The fauna was dominated numerically by polychaetes and amphipods on all shores, Pygospio elegans, Capitella capitata and Bathyporeia spp. being the dominant forms; molluscs were notably insignificant on most shores. Tables giving the maximum densities of every species recorded together with the maximum densities of dominant species at each station on all shores are presentThe results are compared with a range of North European shores which comprise basically similar communities but with much higher population densities in Orkney. A site of unique interest at the Bay of Quoys, Hoy, is described and discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences , Volume 87 , Issue 1-2: The Marine Biology of the Orkney Islands , 1985 , pp. 27 - 45
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1985

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