Rhosneigr Reefs
Also within
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Geology & landscape
Landscape processes: Coastal
Description
Description Rhosneigr Reefs consist of a group of rocks and flanking reefs situated just to the south west of Rhosneigr on the west coast of Ynys Mon. Extensive areas of intertidal bedrock and sandy sediments are included within the site. The site is a classic area for the research and educational study of marine algae. It is of particular importance for the abundance and variety of rock pools present, formed by the combination of extensive bedrock outcrops with the shallow-sloping sandy beach. Rock pools are present on the shore at a range of tidal heights. The size of many of the pools permits a considerable upwards extension of many species and is particularly well represented here. The extensive lagoon formed at low water contains a rich marine flora and fauna. Shelter provided by outlying rocks minimises sand scouring and enhances development of these communities. In addition to a high diversity of littoral and shallow sublittoral algae present in these pools several less common or rare species such as the red algae Laurencia obtusa occur. Faunal communities arre similarly well developed and include the spider crab near its northern limit in the British Isles.
Species mentioned
Show the 2 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rounded brittle fern weed | Laurencia obtusa | Not listed in GB list | algae red | rhodomelaceae |
| Phalacrocorax aristotelis | Not listed in GB list | bird | phalacrocoracidae |