Species point records from 1983 OPRU Isles of Scilly littoral rock survey

These surveys were carried out to describe the habitats, communities and species on littoral rock throughout the archipelago and to classify the sites described according to their scientific interest and probable nature conservation importance. Sites were selected from maps and charts to ensure that as wide a range of habitats as possible was surveyed in the time available. Systematic surveys were carried out of open-shore communities and records of the abundance of conspicuous species were obtained from the main subzones on the shore. These results enable the classification of different shore types based on communities present and topographical features. Particular attention was given to the description of other habitats such as rockpools, boulders and caves. Colour transparency photographs were taken of the shores and habitats present and of species. Algae were collected and pressed to provide a reference herbarium of Isles of Scilly algae. In order to map the distribution of different shore types, survey results, observations of shores made whilst travelling between sites, aerial photographs and photographs held by NCC were used. 46 sites were described during the two periods of survey and a total of 128 algal, 13 lichen and 237 animal taxa were recorded. 9 different shore types were described ranging from those exposed to very severe wave action at Bishop Rock and the Western Rocks, to those very sheltered from wave action in the channels between islands, and from the bedrock shores of the seaward-facing coasts to the boulders and boulders on sand of the enclosed coasts. Seperate descriptions were made of the communities present under boulders, in boulder caves and in rockpools. The rocky shore communities present in the Isles of Scilly were distinctly southern in character, but the fauna of open shores was somewhat impoverished when compared with mainland shores, probably as a result of the isolation of the islands. In the assessment of the nature conservation importance of shores, special features of shores in the Isles of Scilly were considered to be: the high diversity of habitats and therefore of communities and species along the coastline; the presence of many southern species; the high scientific interest of adjacent terrestrial areas; the potential for development of interpretative facilities; the high intrinsic (scenic) appeal of the coast. Particularly high importance was given to the presence of exceptionally exposed shores and the presence of sheltered shores amongst the islands which include very rich underboulder communities. Recommendations for future work included: - that rapid surveys by boat and/or foot should be made to provide accurate maps of the location and extent of different shore types and to ensure that all of the main habitats and communities have been included in the assessment of the shores; - that a collation of available information on the shores of the Isles of Scilly is undertaken; - that biologists with experience of Isles of Scilly shores should be asked to assess the scientific interest and conservation value of shores with which they are familiar and that a search of the literature should be carried out to ensure the listing of all species of high scientific interest; - that the categories included in the NCC rocky shore recording sheet should be thoroughly reviewed and a new sheet developed.本调查旨在描述整个群岛潮间带岩石（littoral rock）的生境、群落及物种，并依据其科学价值与潜在自然保护重要性对调查点位进行分类。调查点位通过地图与海图遴选，以确保在可用时限内覆盖尽可能多样的生境类型。针对开阔岸带群落（open-shore communities）开展系统性调查，并从潮间带主要亚区记录了醒目物种的丰度数据。本调查结果可依据现存群落与地形特征，对不同岸带类型进行分类。研究重点关注了潮池、巨砾及洞穴等其他生境的描述。对现存岸带、生境及物种拍摄了彩色反转片（colour transparency）照片。采集并压制藻类标本，以构建锡利群岛（Isles of Scilly）藻类参考标本馆（herbarium）。为绘制不同岸带类型的分布图谱，本次调查采用以下资料：调查结果、点位间行进过程中对沿岸带的观测记录、航空照片以及NCC馆藏照片。两次调查期间共描述了46个点位，记录到藻类（algae）128种、地衣（lichen）13种以及动物分类单元（taxa）237个。本次调查共划分出9类岸带类型：从位于主教岩（Bishop Rock）与西岩群（Western Rocks）、受极强波浪冲击的岸带，到岛屿间水道内受极佳庇护的岸带；从面向外海的基岩岸带（bedrock shores），到封闭岸带（enclosed coasts）的巨砾滩及沙覆巨砾岸带。针对巨砾下方、巨砾洞穴及潮池内的现存群落开展了单独描述。锡利群岛现存的岩岸群落具有显著的南方属性，但与大陆岸带相比，开阔岸带的动物区系（fauna）略显贫乏，这可能源于群岛的地理隔离。在评估岸带的自然保护重要性时，锡利群岛岸带的核心特色被认定为：沿岸生境、群落及物种的高度多样性；大量南方物种的存在；毗邻陆地生态系统的极高科学价值；岸带解说设施的开发潜力；以及海岸本身极高的内在（景观）美学价值。其中，极端暴露岸带以及岛屿间包含极丰富巨砾下群落的庇护岸带，被赋予了极高的保护优先级。后续工作建议如下： - 开展乘船及/或徒步快速调查，以精准绘制不同岸带类型的位置与分布范围图谱，并确保岸带评估覆盖所有主要生境与群落； - 整合现有关于锡利群岛岸带的相关资料； - 邀请具备锡利群岛岸带调查经验的生物学家，对其熟悉的岸带开展科学价值与保护价值评估；同时开展文献检索，确保收录所有具有高科学价值的物种； - 全面修订NCC岩岸记录表格的分类体系，并开发全新的记录表单。