The Wildlife Trust's North Sea Wildlife Project

Seaweed secrets revealed

Media release

12 August 2011

 

Seaweed secrets revealed

 

 

Scientists taking part in the first ever survey of seaweed to span the length of the East Coast of England have discovered a variety of species new to the region, including a sponge never before seen in the UK, The Wildlife Trusts can reveal.

 

The Seaweed East survey involved a team of surveyors, including renowned marine biologists, seasearch divers, a botanist and a wild food expert, exploring 11 locations from Essex to Northumberland between 1 and 10 August. At each location they recorded, and collected samples of, every species of seaweed they found. The survey was coordinated by The Wildlife Trusts working in partnership with other organisations.

Whilst exploring this under-surveyed section of the UK’s coastline, the Seaweed East team discovered the unidentified purple sponge. It is not yet clear if the species, found during dives off East Runton in Norfolk, is new to science.

 

Joan Edwards, Head of Living Seas for The Wildlife Trusts, said:

“This survey has thrown up some important finds. Although the main objective was to survey seaweed, the team took advantage of being in a relatively unexplored environment to survey other species, resulting in the sponge discovery off Norfolk.

 

“The samples and results are still awaiting full analysis. We have no doubt that once this is done they’ll form a crucial part of our knowledge base around what’s living in the North Sea off the east coast of England.

 

“The survey has also revealed seaweed species that are new to the East Coast, such as the red seaweed Gastroclomium reflexum, or reflexed grape weed.”

 

A total of 131 species have been collected to date, including four non-native species to the UK. All seaweeds collected from both shore and dive surveys will be pressed and scanned, producing an East Coast collection that will be available to view online once complete.

 

The Wildlife Trusts helped fund and coordinate Seaweed East in conjunction with Seasearch, a volunteer organisation for divers to get involved with surveying the marine wildlife they encounter in the UK.  Together with Shoresearch - The Wildlife Trusts’ volunteer run scheme which identifies and records animals, plants, and habitats along our shoreline - records are being built up of the marine wildlife our seas support.  This information could be used in future to help identify areas of special importance for marine life both above and below the surface.

 

To find out more about the marine life in the North Sea visit www.northseawildlife.org.uk.  To sign The Wildlife Trusts Petition Fish and support Marine Protected Areas visit www.wildlifetrusts.org/petitionfish and for more information about The Wildlife Trusts’ Living Seas vision visit www.wildlifetrusts.org/livingseas.

 

To view the Seaweed East photo gallery click here

-Ends-

 

Contact information:

 

Anna Guthrie (Media & PR Manager)

Office: 01636 670075

Mobile: 07887 754659

Email: aguthrie@wildlifetrusts.org

 

Tanya Perdikou (Media & Campaigns Officer)

Office: 01636 670057

Mobile: 07887 754657

Email: tperdikou@wildlifetrusts.org

 

Images are available for use with this news release.  They are granted on a one-time use basis, in association with this release and the photographer must be credited.

 

The Wildlife Trusts has an ISDN line available for radio interviews.  Please contact us to book an interview.

 

Notes for editors:

 

1. Funding partners

The Wildlife Trusts, Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership, The Environment Agency, Durham Heritage Coast, Marine Conservation Society, Purling Transport

Seaweed East location itinerary:

• Mon 1 Aug - Blackwater, Harwich, Essex

• Tues 2 Aug – Orfordness, Sussex

• Wed 3 Aug - West Runton, Norfolk

• Thurs 4 Aug – Hunstanton, Norfolk

• Fri 5 Aug- Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire

• Sat 6 Aug- Flamborough Head, Yorkshire

• Sun 7 Aug- Boggle Hole, Yorkshire           

• Mon 8 Aug- Blackhall Rocks, Durham

• Tues 9 Aug– Beadnell, Northumberland

• Wed 10 Aug– Creswell, Northumberland

 

Based on the current data Seaweed East has revealed:

• Seaweed species new to the East Coast, such as the red seaweed Gastroclomium reflexum, also known as ‘reflexed grape weed'

• Sponges found within the Durham Heritage Coast and Northumberland coastline appeared characteristically different in appearance to those found further south, due to higher levels of exposure, causing abrasion to the surface of the creatures

• In Yorkshire, high numbers of edible and velvet swimming crabs were found but lower numbers  of fish than seen further south

• A purple sponge new to the UK, possibly even new to science, was found during dives off East Runton in Norfolk.

• 131 species found to date, with 206 undergoing pressing. All species will be scanned and pdfs of the collection made available online

• Four non-native species of seaweed were found, mostly in Essex

• Starlet Sea Anemones were seen along the Suffolk and Norfolk coastline, a UK BAP species

• An unidentified sea slug, new to Norfolk, was discovered

   

The Wildlife Trusts (TWT)  wildlifetrusts.org

There are 47 individual Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK and the Isle of Man and Alderney.  All are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone.  We have more than 800,000 members including 150,000 members of our junior branch Wildlife Watch.  Our vision is to create A Living Landscape and secure Living Seas.  We manage around 2,300 nature reserves and every year we advise thousands of landowners and organisations on how to manage their land for wildlife. We also run marine conservation projects around the UK, collecting vital data on the state of our seas and celebrating our amazing marine wildlife.  Every year we work with thousands of schools and our nature reserves and visitor centres receive millions of visitors.  Each Wildlife Trust is working within its local communities to inspire people about the future of their area: their own Living Landscapes and Living Seas.