Wilkinson, Tittley: Marine algae of Elie, Scotland: a Re-assessment 249 Botanica Marina Vol. XXII, pp. 249-256, 1979 The Marine Algae of Elie, Scotland: a Re-assessment M. Wilkinson and I. Tittley* Department of Brewing and Bio logical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland and * Department of Botany, British Museum (Natural History}, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, England (Received June 30,1978) Abstract No change has been fond between the survey of Traill in 1888 and the present work in the species richness of marine algae at Elie on the north coast of the Firth of Forth in Scotland. This is compared to Joppa and Dunbar on the south coast of the Firth of Forth where, in the case of the former, a great species reduction has occurred since Traill's time, while it has not occurred at Dunbar. The changes are in accord with the likely distribution of pollutants in the Forth. Comparison of changes in detailed species recordings and in numerical species richness is made in relation to pollution monitoring schemes. It is suggested that those pollution monitoring schemes which rely solely on quantitative distributional data of common species are inadequate and that some estimate of species richness should be included in such schemes. Introduction Johnston (in press) attributed the reduction principally to increased levels of suspended solids resulting from the Towards the end of the 19th century comprehensive discharge of crude sewage from Edinburgh while it was accounts of the marine algal flora of three sites in the assumed that at Dunbar the effluents would have been Firth of Forth, on the east coast of Scotland, were pubsufficiently broken down and diluted to have had virtulished by G. W. Traill; Joppa (Traill 1886); Elie (Traill ally no effect. Since Johnston's surveys a list of both 1888); and Dunbar (Traill 1886) (see Fig. 1). Since that macroscopic and microscopic species from TrailPs area at time there has been a marked increase in effluent discharge Dunbar has been published (Norton 1976). to the Forth including untreated sewage from Edinburgh; petrochemical and oil-refinery wastes from Grangemouth; The purpose of the present work is to present an up-toand brewery, distillery and domestic effluents from the date list of species for Traill's third main site, Elie, in order to determine whether or not there have been any upper estuary around Alloa (Fig. 1). The residual circulation in the estuary (Craig 1958,1972), shown in Figure major changes in algal flora since Traill's time in that part of the Forth believed to be least polluted. Comparisons 1, is thought to involve a predominantly inward or upare made with Norton's more comprehensive list for stream movement of relatively clean North Sea water Dunbar and of with both Traill's and Johnston's along the north bank of the Forth and a net outward investigations at Joppa and Dunbar. These investigations flow of water along the south bank. Therefore, it might and their usefulness in relation to pollution monitoring be expected that any deleterious effect of the effluent are discussed. increase on the algal flora would be seen mainly on the south bank rather than on the north bank. The algal flora at TrailTs two sites on the south bank, Joppa and Sampling and the Sites Dunbar, has been resurveyed in 1961 and 1971 by The locations of Elie and of the other sites surveyed by Johnston (1972). This survey was restricted to macroscopic forms in order to avoid difficulties in interpreting Traill are shown in Figure 1. The area of shore at Elie covered by Traill and in the present survey is shown in Traill's taxonomy and it showed that there had been little change in the list of macroscopic species present at Figure 2. Exhaustive intertidal collections were made at Elie over two one-week periods in August 1976 and March Dunbar but a drastic reduction at Joppa. Knight and 0006-8055/79/0022-0249502.00 ©Services by Walter de Gruyter & Co. - Berlin - New York Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Authenticated Download Date | 5/25/15 3:23 PM 250 Resid ual Wilkinson, Tittley: Marine algae of Elie, Scotland: a Re-assessment current é Fig, 1 Map to show the position of sampling sites (Train's sites shown in capital letters), principal effluent sources and suspected direction of net water movement in the Firth of Forth. The small area enclosed by pecked lines is that studied in the present paper and shown enlarged in Fig. 2 Rock : Boulders : ° *0°b Sand = Fig. 2 Enlarged map to show area of shore surveyed by Traill and by the present authors at Elie. The two thick lines perpendicular to water marks show the limits of the surveys. The numbers refer to those used for the shore descriptions in the text. Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Services Authenticated Download Date | 5/25/15 3:23 PM Botanica Marina / Vol, ××Ð /1979 / Fasc. 4 251 Wilkinson, Tittley; Marine algae of Elie, Scotland: a Re-assessment 1977. In addition some records of Chlorophyta obtained on a visit in June 1975 have been included in the list. No sublittoral collections were made and only a few drift records have been included in the list. Brief descriptions of the shores at Elie are given below since these were not presented by Traill. 1. The Lady's Tower: Steep rocks dissected by deep channels, exposed to wave action with abundant Alaria on exposed faces. 2. Elie Ness: Moderately exposed to wave action with steeply shelving rocks; the lower eulittoral zone being occupied by a sandy bay. Laminaria digitata and L hyperborea were abundant with Ceramwm shuttleworthianum and Callithamnion arbuscula ovetMytilus on exposed faces. 3. Wood Haven: A sandy bay with shallow water and numerous low-lying reefs. The vegetation of the inner part of the bay was dominated by Laminaria saccharina, Chorda and Scytosiphon. 4. Elie Harbour: An exposed headland with flat areas on the upper shore, covered with Prasiola and Porphyra linearis, steeply sloping towards the water at the lower level. The harbour wall enclosed a sandy bay on the inner side and a muddy inlet on the outer side. The wall bore turf-forming algae and Monostroma oxyspermum. 5. Elie Bay: The eastern part of the bay was sandy with little vegetation. The central and western parts had low-lying reefs and large boulders with sandy areas between. The vegetation was dominated by annual Chlorophyta and Phaeophyta (e. g. Enteromorpha, Stictyosiphon) and by larger brown algae such as Laminaria saccharina and L. digitata. 6. Earlsferry and CockstaU Rocks: Parallel ridges running out to sea at right angles to the shore. The ridges gently sloped westwards with steep eastern faces. Polysiphonia elongata was common and young Himanthalia was found in March 1977. 7. Chapel Ness: A dissected shore with deep pools and channels. 8. Shore south of Earlsferry Links: Upper shore very uneven with numerous deep pools containing Codium and Halidrys; lower shore with deep channels and rocky reefs surrounding shallow lagoons. 9. Bay west of Earlsferry Links: A sandy bay with occasional boulders and projecting rocks occupied by typical sandy shore communities of Enteromorpha, Stictyosiphon, Polyides, and Laminaria saccharina. 10. Shore by Falstaffs Cave: Very uneven rocks densely covered with mussels but with poor flora. 11. Kincraig Point: A rocky exposed headland with vertical faces dipping into turbid water, dominated by Alaria but otherwise poor in algal species- Results Our field survey established the presence of 31 species of Chlorophyta, 48 species of Phaeophyta and 59 species of Rhodophyta at Elie; these are listed in Tables I and 11. The results of a comparison of Traill's species lists with those of the present survey are contained in Tables I-IV. In all tables nomenclature follows Parke and Dixon (1976). Tab. L List of algae found at Elie by Traill (1888) and also recorded in the present survey. CHLOROPHYTA Bryopsis plumosa (Huds.) C, Ag. Chaefomorpha capillaris (Kiitz.) B#rg. C melagonium (Web, et Mohr.) Kiitz, Cladophora rupestris ( L j Ktitz. C sericea (Huds.) Kutz. Enteromorpha intestinalis (L,) Link E. linza(L.)i. Ag, Monostroma grevillei (Thur) Wittr. Prasiola stipitata Suhr in Jessen Rhizochnium riparium (Roth) Harv. Spongomorpha arc fa (Dillw.) Kütz. Ulothrix flacca (DillwJ Thur, in Le Jol. Ulva laciuca L. Urosporapenicilliformis (Roth) Aresch. PHAEOPHYTA Alaria escuienta (L.) Grev, Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jol. Asperococcus fistulosus (Huds.) Hook. Chorda filum (L.) Stackh. Chordaria flagelliformis (O, F. Mull.) C. Ag, Cladostephus spongiosus (Huds,) C. Ag. Desmaresria aculeata (L.) Lamow, D. viridis (0. F, Müll.) Lamour. Dictyosiphon chordaria Aresch. D. foeniculaceus (Huds.) Grev. Ectocarpus fascicttlatus Harv. E. siliculosus (Dillw.) Lyngb. Elachista flaccida (Dillw.) Aresch. E. fucicola (VelL) Aresch. Eudesme virescens (Carm. ex Harv. in Hook.) J. Ag. Fucus serratus L* F. spiralis L. F. vesiculosus L. Giffordiagranulosa (Sm.) Hamel Halidrys siliquosa (L.) Lyngb. Himanthalia elongata (L.) S, F. Gray Isthmoplea sphaerophora (Carm. ex Harv. in Hook,) KJellm. Laminaria digitata (Huds.) Lamour. L hyperborea (Gunn,) Fosl. L. saccharina (L.) Lamour. Leathesiä difformis (L.) Aresch. Litosiphon laminariae (Lyngb.) Harv, Myriotrichia fHi for mis Harv. Pelvetia canaliculata (L.) Dene, et Thur. Petaloniü fascia (O. F. Müll.) O. Kuntze P. zosterifolia (Reinke) O. Kuntze Pilayella litloralis (L.) Kjellm. Punctaria plantaginea (Roth) Grev. Ralfsia verntcosa (Aresch,) J. Ag. Scytosiphon lomentaria (Lyngb.) Link. Sphacelaria britannica Sauv. A cirrosa (Roth) C. Ag. S. radicans (Dillw J C Ag. Spongonema tomentosum (Huds.) Kutz. Stictyosiphon tortilis (Rupr) Reinke Botanica Marina / VoL XXII f 1979 I Fasc. 4 Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Services Authenticated Download Date | 5/25/15 3:23 PM Wilkinson, Tittley: Maiine algae of Elie, Scotland: a Re-assessment 252 Tab. I. (continued) Tab. II. (continued) RHODOPHYTA Uothrix pseudoflacca Wüle U. sublaccida Wüle Urospora bangioides (Harv.) Batt. Ahnfeltia plicata (HudsJ Fries Audouinella floridula (Dillw.) Woelkerling Audouinella secundata (Lyngb.) Dixon Callithamnion arbuscula (Dillw.) Lyngb. C hookeri (DUlw.) S. F. Gray, Caienella caespitosa (With.) Dixon et L, Irvine Ceramium diaphanum (Lightf.) Roth C, rubrum (Huds.) C. Ag. C. shutfleworthianum (Kütz.) Rabenh. Chondrus crispus Stackh« Corallina officinalis L. Cruoria pellita (Lyngb.) Fries Cryptopleura ramosa (Huds,) Kylin ex Newton Cystoclonium purpureum (Huds.) Batt. Delesseria sanguined (Huds.) Lamour. Dermatolithon pustulatum (Lamour,) FosL Dilsea carnosa (Schmidel) O. Kuntze Dumontia incrassata (0, F. Müll.) Lamour, Gelidium pusillum (Stackh.) Le Jol. Gigartina stettata (Stackh. in With.) Batt. Griff it hsia flosculosa (Ellis) Batt. Hildenbrandia rubra (Sommerf,) Menegh. Laurencia hybrida (DC) Lenorm. ex Duby L. pinnatifida (Huds.) Lamour. Lomentaria articülata (Huds,) Lyngb, L. clavellosa (Turn.) GailL Melobesia membranacea (Esper) Lamour. Membranoptera alata (Huds,) Stackh. Odonthalia dentaia (L,) Lyngb. Palmaria palmata (L,) O. Kuntze Phycodrys rubens (L.) Batt. Phyllophora crispa (Huds) Dixon Phyllophora pseüdoceranoides (S. G. Gmel.) Newroth et A. R. A. Taylor P. iraillii Holm, ex Batt. P. truncata (Pall.) Zinova Phymatotithon lenormandii (Aresch in J, Ag.) Adey P. polymorphism (L.) Fosl. Plumaria elegans (Huds.) C, Ag. Polyides rotundas (Huds.) Grev. Polysiphonia brodiaei (Dillw.) Spreng. P elongaia (Huds.) Spreng. P. lanosa (L.) Tandy P. nigra (Huds.) Batt. P. nigrescens (Huds.) Grev. P. urceolate (Lightf. ex Dillw,) Grev. Porphyra ieucosticta Thur. in Le Jol. P. purpurea (Roth) C. Ag. P. umbilicalis (L.) L Ag. Pterosiphonia parasitica (Huds.) Falkenb. Rhodomela confervoides (Huds.) Silva Tab. II. Species recorded at Elie in the present survey but not found by Traill (1888). CHLOROPHYTA Blidingia marginata (J, Ag,) P, Dang. B. minima (Nag. ex Kütz.) Kylin Bolbocoleon piliferum N, Pringsh. Chlorochytrium cohnii Wright (Note 1) C wiltei Printz Codium fragile (Sur.) Hariot ssp. ailanticurn (Cotton) Silva Enieromorpa prolifera (O. F. Mull) J. Ag. Endoderma perforans Huber Epicladia flustrae Reinke Gomontia polyrhiza (Lagerh.) Born, et Flah. Monostroma oxyspermum (Kütz.) Doty (Note 1) Phaeophila viridis (Reinke) Burrows Rhizodonium riparium (Roth) Harv, Spongomorpha aeruginosa (L.) Hoek f (Note 1) (Note 1) (Note 1) PHAEOPHYTA Feldmannia simplex (Crouan frat,) Hamel Hecatonema macufans (ColL) Sauv. Litosiphon pusillus (Carm- ex Hook.) Harv. Myriotrichia repens Hauck Sphacelaria fusca (Huds.) S. F. Gray Ulonema rhizophorum Fosl. (Note 1) (Note 1) RHODOPHYTA Audouinella daviesii (Dillw.) Woelkerling A. infestans (Howe et Hoy t) Dixon A. virgatula (Har.) Dixon Erythrotrichia carnea (Dillw.) J. Ag, Lithothamnium glaciate Kjellm. Lomentaria orcadensis (Harv.) Coll. ex Taylor Peyssonnelia dubyi Crouan frat Phymatolithon laevigatam (Fosl.) Fosl. Porphyra tineam Grev. (Note 1) Note 1: The particular species is not listed in the other records for the Firth of Forth and St. Andrew's Bay and therefore represents a new record for the area and for the County of Fife. The other records are Batters (1902), Laverack and Blackler (1974), Norton (1976) and Traill (1880, 1890). Tab. III. Species recorded by Traill (1888) at Elie but not found in present survey. CHLOROPHYTA Chaetoniorpha linum (0. F. Müll.) Kütz. (Note 6) Cladophora albida (Huds.) Kütz. (Note 6) C laetevirem (Dillw.) Kütz. Enteromorpha clathrata (Roth) Grev. E, compressa (L.) Grev. Percursaria percursa (C. Ag.) Rosenv. Rhizodonium arenosum (Carm. ex Harv. in Hook.) Kütz.(Note 7) PHAEOPHYTA Chorda tomentosa Lyngb. Dictyota dichotoma (Huds.) Lamour. Elachlsta scutulata (Sm.) Aresch. Giffordia secunda (Kütz.) Batt. Halopteris scoparia (LJ Sauv. Herponema velutinum (Grev.) J. Ag. Litosiphon pusillus (Carm. ex Hook.) Harv, Mesogloia vermiculata (Sm,) S. F. Gray . Myrionema strangulans Grev. Myriotrichia clavaeformis Harv. Punctaria tenuimma (C. Ag.) Grev. Saccorhiza potyschides (Lightf.) Batt. Sphacelaria plumigera Holm. (Note 6) (Note 1) (Note?) (Note 1) (Notes 2 and 5) RHODOPHYTA Audouinella sparsa (Harv.) Dixon Antithamnion plumula (Ellis) Thur. in Le JoL Bangia atropurpurea (Roth) C Ag. Bonnemaisonia asparagoides (Woodw.) C. Ag. Brongnianella byssoides (Good, et Woodw.) Schniitz Callithamnion corymbosum (Sm.) Lyngb, C letragonum (With.) S, F. Gray Callophyllis laciniatajtiuds.) Kütz Ceramium ciliatum (Ellis) Ducluz. Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Services Authenticated Download Date | 5/25/15 3:23 PM (Note 4) (Note 4) (Note 3) (Notes 4 and 5) (Notes 4 and 5) (Note 4) (Notes 4 and 5) (Note 7) Botanica Marina / Vol. XXII / 1979 / Fasc. 4 Wilkinson, Tittley: Marine algae of Elie, Scotland: a Re-assessment Tab. III. (continued) C srrictum Harv. Compsothamniongracillimum De Toni {Note 7) Cordylecladia erecta (Grev.) J. Ag. (Note 7) Furcelloria lumbncalis fHuds.) L amour. Gloiosiphonia capillaris (Huds.) Carm, ex Berk (Note 7) Griffithsia corallinoides (L.) Batt. (Note 4) Heterosiphonia plttmosa (Ellis) Batt. {Notes 4 and 5) Hypogtossum woodwardii Kiitz, (Note 4) Jania rubens (L.) Lamour, (Notes 6 and 7) Petrocelis cruenta J. Ag, Plocamium cartilagineum (L.) Dixon (Note 4) Polysiphoniä elongella Harv. in Hook. (Note 7) P fibrata (Dillw.) Harv. in Hook. P. fibrillosa (Dillw.) Spreng. Ptüota plumosa (Huds,) C. Ag, (Notes 4 and 5) Rhodomela lycopodioides (L·) C. Ag. (Notes 4 and 5) Rhodophyllisdivoricata (Stackh.) Papenf (Notes 4, 6 and 7) Spermothamnion barbatum (C. Ag.) Born, (Note 7) 5, repens (Dillw.) Rosenv. Note 1 Owing to the unusual lack of adult Himanthalia plants (see Discussion ) it was difficult to find material of these species which are often found as epiphytes on Himanthalia. Note 2 Found only by Traill as drift and not recorded by Laverack and Blackler (1974) and Norton (1976). It therefore seems that the records in Batters (1902) for Fife and Haddington should be regarded with caution. Note 3 Although not found in the present survey at Elie these species have recently been found by the authors elsewhere on the Fife coast of the Firth of Forth. Note 4 Species which may be predominantly sublittoral and so which could have been omitted from the present survey. Note 5 Stated by Traill to be records based only on drift material. Note 6 Recorded by Traill only on the basis of earlier reports and not based on his own collections. Note 7 Species which appear to be rare in the area on the basis of the published species lists (see Table II footnote for list). Discussion 253 aspects of TrailTs methodology likely to influence a direct comparison of the results of his field survey with those of ours. L TrailTs(1880, 1886, 1888, 1890) species lists for many localities suggest that, in keeping with many other workers in the last century, he tended to lay greater emphasis on identification of Rhodophyta and Phaeophyta than on Chlorophyta and it is likely that the additional species of Chlorophyta found in the present survey were present at TrailTs time. 2. TraiJPs records are based on collections over a much longer period of time than those of the present survey and include specimens collected by other workers. Some of Traiirs records appear from the other literature (footnote to Tab II) to be very rare for the area as a whole. It is likely that because of the shorter time scale he simply failed to collect a number of species and these should not be regarded a representing deletions from the Elie flora. In view of this it is remarkable that we have found almost as many species as were found by Traill. 3, Traiirs records include a number of distinctily subiittoral species, presumably based on repeated drift examination over a long period of time. We did not make sublittoral collections, nor did we include more than a few drift recordings. The "modified Traiir total in Table IV is arrived at by excluding species believed to be distinctily sublittoral or recorded by Traill only as drift specimens. Such excluded species are indicated by the notes in Table III. In order to overcome some of these difficulties, Johnston (1972) in comparing Traill's lists for Dunbar and Joppa with his own recordings omitted microscopic species since these present the most nomenclatural and taxonomic problems. The Problems of Comparing Species Lists The direct comparison of a recent species list with one compiled during the last century for the same locality, in order to determine whether or not floral changes have occurred, can be misleading. This results from differences in nomenclatural and taxonomic interpretation (particularly with regard to microscopic forms) and also from differences in technique in the field. Many earlier publications have not given adequate information on either of these points and the consequences of not taking them into account can be seen in the results presented by Bellamy et al (1967) who reported a loss of 70% of the algal species from the polluted north-east coast of England since the 19th century. Edwards (1973, 1975) in a critical assessment of the marine flora of that area, which took into consideration nomenclatural and sampling differences, suggested a more realistic 16% loss of species, We have therefore revised TrailTs lists according to modern taxonomy (see Tab I-IV); we also outline below Discussion of Results of the Present Survey In view of the factors outlined above we regard the 136 species recorded during the present survey (Tab, I and II) in comparison with the 152 found by Traill not as a real reduction in species but as an indication that there has been little change. A modified total for Traill's collection at Elie (Tab. IV) obtained by discounting records believed to be sublittoral species, or so indicated by Trail], is slightly less than that of the present intertidal survey and substantiates the conclusion that there has been little significant change in the number of species of the algal flora at Elie since Traill's time. This conclusion is in keeping with the suspected pattern of net water movement in the Forth in relation to effluent sources described in the Introduction to this paper; various authors having reported a reduction in species number of intertidal algae in polluted localities (e. g. Borowitzka 1972). Botanica Marina / VoL XXII / 1979 / Fasc. 4 Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Services Authenticated Download Date | 5/25/15 3:23 PM Wilkinson, Tittley: Marine algae of Elie, Scotland: a Re-assessment 254 Tab. IV. Totals of species found at Elie Traill 1888 CHLOROPHYTA 21 PHAEOPHYTA 53 RHODOPHYTA TOTAL Present survey Modified Traill* 1888 Common to Traill 1888 and present survey f only in Traill 1888 only in present survey 18 50 58 14 40 50 7 13 28 17 78 31 46 59 152 136 126 104 48 32 6 9 * see text for explanation However, to say that the species total has not altered since Traill's time ignores the fact that of our 136 species and of Traill's 152 species only 76% and 68% respectively (104 species) are common to both Traill's survey and to ours. It is therefore necessary to examine further the composition of the species lists with regard to both the more common and the less common species. Himanthalia population by early Winter gales but also an annual recolonisation in late Winter und Spring which, if it occurred at Elie, should have given rise to a recognizable population by June 1976. Moss, Mercer and Sheader (1973) have suggested, with experimental evidence, that Himanthalia is not able to survive in water with a high suspended solid loading which is settling out onto the substratum. During 1976 when Himanthalia was apparent1. Common species. It might be expected that if the conly absent it was noted that the water at Elie, at the time clusion is that little floristic change has occurred then of our survey was particularly turbid, carrying a high the list of commoner species should be identical for both suspended load. In early 1977 the present authors also surveys. Almost all the commoner and more easily identinoted in an unpublished survey between Aberdour and fied species were present on both occasions, with one Dalgety Bay, also on the North coast of the Firth of notable exception. Forth (Fig. 1) that there was evidence of possible intertidal population interference by temporary sedimentation; Codium fragile ssp. atlanticum appears to be a major lower shore barnacle populations being represented introduction of a species which has become common at largely by sediment filled empty-shells while the subElie. This is not likely to have occurred because of a littoral fringe laminarian cover was sparse and of a unimarked change of conditions, such as water quality, at formly young age structure, a possible indicator of such Elie but simply because of an expansion of the distribution range of this sub-species which is already well-docu- interference (Lewis 1976). It may therefore be that the unexpected absence of Himanthalia during one year at mented (Silva 1955). Elie could have been a temporary situation induced by Himanthalia elongata is an interesting example of a a short-lived change in the sedimentation regime. None"common" species undetected one year by us but abuntheless, it is an example of a major species being appadantly present the following year. It was recorded on all rently absent for part of the time and it is possible that exposed promontories by Traill. In the June 1976 survey a survey carried out only during that part of the time despite thorough searching of the shore we did not find would have recorded its absence as a major change in the one single plant at any stage of development on the community. whole 5 km length of shore yet we had noted it as common on the outer side of Elie Harbour in the prelimi- 2. Less common species. The log-normal distribution nary survey of May 1975. In March 1977 it was found as curve for the abundance of successively ranked species dense populations only at the more western promonin a community (Preston 1948) is believed to apply to tories and only as young stages. It has not apparently most kinds of communities and there is no reason to recolonised at Elie Harbour. Normally a population of suspect that it does not apply to the marine algal comHimanthalia is expected to contain all stages of develop- munity of Elie. On the basis of this distribution it would ment over its 21 month life-history. This is an example, be expected that there would be relatively few common firstly, of a species, common in Traill's time, possibly species and a much greater number of relatively rare having become less common at the present and, secondly, species. It is unlikely in a survey of the duration of of one of the major species being apparently absent from lhe present one that all the rarer species should be found. an apparently "healthy" community for one year. It is It might expected that at least some of the rarer ones are interesting that Laverack and Blackler (1976) comment so uncommon because they are at or near the limits of that in St. Andrews Bay, only a few miles along the coast their environmental tolerance. This could increase their from Elie, there is often an annual removal of most of the susceptibility to quite small fluctuations in environBrought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Services Authenticated Download Date | 5/25/15 3:23 PM Botanica Marina / Vol. XXII / 1979 / Fasc. 4 255 Wilkinson, Tittley: Marine algae of Elie, Scotland: a Re-assessment mental conditions. Therefore, there is a likelihood that small irregular chnges in conditions from one year to the next will function almost as a chance element in determining the species composition of the less common element in the community in any one particular year. Fluctuations would therefore be expected from one year to the next in the particular species composition of part of the algal flora without necessarily causing drastic changes in species richness. This idea is in keeping with our observation of a broadly similar species richness to that of Traill while a substantial number of the less common species are not held in common by the two lists. Accordingly, an alternative comparison to that of Johnston (1972) using both common and less common species beween TraüTs lists for Joppa and Dunbar and recent recordings has been attempted. The recent recordings for Dunbar were those of Norton (1976) and for Joppa were unpublished recordings of M. Wilkinson. The comparison of species totals for Dunbar is given in Table V and for Joppa in Table VI. These results show a considerable reduction in numbers of species at Joppa while no such reduction has occurred at Dunbar einforcing Johnston's findings. However, at Dunbar as at Elie there is considerable difference in the detailed species composition of the flora even though species richness is similar. Tab. V. Totals of species found at Dunbar Traill 1890 Norton 1976 68 9 23 42 22 42 55 10 34 44 138 74 119 88 CHLOROPHYTA 18 PHAEOPHYTA 52 RHODOPHYTA TOTAL Johnston 1972* Common to Traill 1890 and Norton 1976 macroscopic forms only Tab. Vi, Totals of species found at Joppa Traill 1889 CHLOROPHYTA RHODOPHYTA 9 17 27 TOTAL 53 PHAEOPHYTA Johston 1972* Present survey 7 15 4 13 4 12 24 31 * macroscopic forms only 2. There will be occassions when even a common species may dramatically change in abundance for reasons as yet undetected e. g. Himanthalia in the present survey. Relevance to Future Monitoring Schemes It is therefore suggested that a more comprehensive and effective estimate of change in the algal flora may be obtained by taking a dual approach as follows: While accepting that the particular rare species found may vary from year to year, one would expect no such variation in the common species with few exceptions (e. g. 1. Abundance surveys of commoner species on fixed Himanthalia in the present case). transects as proposed by Baker (1975) but combined The common species only are utilised in one of the princiwith: pal schemes proposed to date for monitoring intertidal 2. Estimates of species richness over the whole area of zones of rocky shores (Baker 1975). In this scheme the shore taking into account rare species but not necesrelative abundances of the common intertidal plants and sarily having regard to detailed records of particular animals, at regular vertical increments along fixed transect species unless they are known to have a particular lines, are recorded on a subjective five to seven point scale. value as indicators. It is suggested that environmental change can be detected as large variations in the recordings obtained over an Unfortunately the biggest limitation on this proposal is interval of time for a particular transect. the taxonomic and nomenclatural problem outlined earlier but it may be that where subtle changes in communiThe use of this scheme has been studied by Crapp (1971) ties are sought as being indicative of gradual changes in who concluded that a certain amount of knowledge was environmental quality there can be no substitute for derequired in order to distinguish between changes in the tailed analysis of groups of organisms by experts on intertidal biota due to man-made environmental changes those groups. and those due to natural causes. Even within the limits for this scheme proposed by Crapp it can be criticised on two grounds. In summary there appears to have been no change in richness of the algal flora at Elie since Traill's time although there has probably been a change in the abun1. The commonest species might be those which would be dance of some species, most notably Himanthalia elongata. There is possibly more value in comparing overall least likely to respond to environmental changes, species richness rather than detailed species composition being near their optimum habitat for survival and for when seeking indications of environmental change. competitive success, Botanica Marina / Vol. XXII / 1979 / Fasc. 4 Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Services Authenticated Download Date | 5/25/15 3:23 PM Wilkinson, Tittley; Marine algae of Elie, Scotland: a Re-assessment 256 References Baker, J. ML 1976. Biological Monitoring - Principles, Methods and Difficulties, In: Marine Ecology and Oil Pollution (J. M, Baker, ed.), pp 41-53, Balking, England; Applied Science Publishers. Batters, E. A. L. 1902. A catalogue of the British marine algae, J. Bot., Land. 40 (SuppL): 1-107. Bellamy, D. J., R. Bellamy, D. M. John and A. Whittick. 1967. Some effects of pollution on rooted macrophytes on the north-east coast of England. Br, phycol Bull 3: 409* Borwitzka, M. A. 1972. Intertidal algal species diversity and the effect of pollution. Aust. J, mar. Freshwat. Res. 23: 73-84. Craig, R. E. 1958. Hydrography of Scottish Coastal Waters. Marine Research no. 2. Edinburgh: Scottish Home Department, Craig, R, E. 1972. Water movements in the Firth of Forth. Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinb. B. 71: 131-135, Crapp, G. B. 1971. Monitoring the rocky shore. In: The Ecological Effects of Oil Pollution on Littoral Communities (E. B. Cowell, ed.). pp 102-113, London: Institute of Petroleum, Edwards, P. 1973* The effects of pollution on benthic marine algae in Co, Durham. Br. phycol. J. 8: 208 Edwards, P. 1975, An assessment of possible pollution effects over a century on the benthic marine algae of Co. Durham, England. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 70: 269-305. Johnston, C. S, 1972. Macroalgae and their environment. Proc, Roy. Soc. Edinb. B. 71: 195-207. Knight, S. and C. S. Johnston- In press. Effects of pollution on the seaweed distribution of the Firth of Forth, Proc. 8th. Int. Seaweed Symp. Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Services Authenticated Download Date | 5/25/15 3:23 PM Laverack, M. S. and M, Bladder. 1974. Fauna and Flora of St. Andrews Bay, Edinburgh and London: Scottish Academic Press. Lewis, J. R. 1976. Rocky Foreshores. In: The Cgatfline (R, S, K. Barnes, ed.). pp 147-158, London: John Wiley & Sons. Moss» B., S. Mercer and A. Sheader. 1973. Factors affecting the distribution of Himanihalia etongata (L.) S. F. Gray on the North-east coast of England. Estuar. cstl. mar. Sei. 1: 233-243. Norton, T. A. 1976. The marine algae of the eastern border counties of Scotland. Br, phycol. J. 11: 19-27, Parke, M. and P. S, Dixon, 1976. Check-list of British marine algae, third revision. / mar. biol. Ass. U. K. 56\ 527-594 Preston, F. W. 1948. The commonness and rarity of species, Ecology 29: 254-283. Silva, P. C. 1955. The dichotomous species of Codium in Britain. / mar, biol. Ass. U. K. Traill, G. W, 1880. The algae of the Firth of Forth. Proc. R. phys. Soc. Edinb, 5: 171-189. Traill, G. W. 1886. The marine algae of Joppa in the county of Mid-Lothian. Trans. Proc. bot, Soc. Edinb. 16: 395-402. Traill, G. W. 1888. The marine algae of Elie. Trans. Proc. bot. Soc. Edinb. 17: 156-173, Traill, G. W. 1890. The marine algae of the Dunbar coast. Trans. Proc. bot. Soc. Edinb. 18: 274-299. Botanica Marina / Vol XXII / 1979 / Fasc, 4