Rocky Shore Invertebrates

This course will give participants practical experience in the identification of common rocky shore invertebrates. Identification will be based on characteristics that would be visible in the field with nothing more sophisticated than a hand lens. Rocky shores exhibit a strong environmental gradient and the distribution of the organisms reflects this. We will use zonation position and ecological context as identification aids, indeed the ecology of the shore is central to this course. Adaptations that enable organisms to survive in this extreme environment will form another main theme. The first field day will be spent looking at a sheltered rocky shore. Species identification will be a priority but the fieldwork will be structured to provide an ecological framework in which to view the organisms. On the second day there will be a visit to an exposed rocky shore. This will reinforce identification skills learnt from day one and introduce course participants to the different communities encountered in response to changes in exposure to wave action.

John Archer-Thomson is Assistant Head of Centre at Dale Fort. His special interests include diving, photography, ecology and natural history.

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