SEAWEED and excitement are an unlikely combination. But that was the case for marine ecologist Dr Heather Sugden as she surveyed the Northumbrian coastline.
Her discovery of dabberlocks seaweed, a cold water kelp, was the highlight of her investigations of the rocky shores from Boulmer to the Borders.
The study, funded by Natural England, is part of a nationwide examination of the shoreline, which is providing information on the effects of climate change.
Dr Sugden said the kelp species had been disappearing from UK southern shores and was believed to be retreating north.
It was last recorded at Robin Hood’s bay in North Yorkshire.
“We thought it had disappeared completely so to find it in Northumberland was fantastic,†said Dr Sugden.
“It is now incredibly rare in the south but it has found a refuge in the North East.â€
The seaweed provides important nursery areas for fish, and as no similar species has filled the vacant niche, there is concern for the potential loss of habitat where young fish can develop.
The survey was the first time the North East shoreline had been studied as part of the long-term Marine Biodiversity and Climate Change project.
The information from the surveys helps scientists understand the effects of climate change on the marine environment.
The project began in 2001 and since 2005 85 locations around the coastline of England, Wales and Scotland have been surveyed.
The North East exercise, by Dr Sugden and colleague Dr Nova Meiskowska from the Marine Biological Association plotted the distribution and abundance of 67 species of shells, seaweed, snails, sponges, anemones and urchins.
Dr Sugden said: “Barnacles, limpets and seaweed are a familiar features, but they are also excellent indicators of changes in the environment.
“We are interested in what the coastal ecology of the North East can tell us about the way that the climate may be changing.
“This region is a key area in which range limits of intertidal species are likely to be changing in response to warming coastal temperatures
“The North East is one of the few areas that has never been systematically surveyed and urgently needs a benchmark from which to measure future changes.
“Seaweed was once used to predict the weather, and now it also has a role in helping understand the impacts of climate change on the marine environment.
“The information from the survey will provide a benchmark that can be used to identify future changes in abundance and distribution of intertidal species, and help predict potential changes resulting from the effects of changing temperatures.â€
She said that the survey also illustrated the richness of marine life on the Northumberland coast.
“The biodiversity we found is spectacular. The Northumbrian coast is a hidden gem.
“The fantastic biodiversity shows how almost pristine and beautiful the Northumberland coastline is.â€
The latest research shows that some fish species have moved northwards over the past 30 years by distances ranging from around 50 to 400km, with cold water species such as monkfish and snake blenny moving the furthest.
It is thought that climate change has contributed to a decrease by approximately 9% in the total number of seabirds breeding in the UK between 2000 and 2008.
Increasing sea temperatures may have the potential to increase the geographic range of some harmful algal bloom species associated with paralytic shellfish poisoning events.
Dr Sugden, who worked as a marine adviser with Natural England in Newcastle, this week began a new job at Newcastle University’s Dove Marine Laboratory in Cullercoats.
She will be working on the Big Sea Survey, a project in which seeks to involve communities in their local marine environment.
Volunteers will continue to monitor a stretch of shoreline.
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Thursday, 5 August 2010
Thursday, 29 July 2010
A wonderful soup in the summer. It is one of my favorite soups when the weather is hot. The mixture of slippery miyeok (seaweed) and crunchy cucumber in a salty broth with a touch of vinegar is very refreshing and appetizing. Dasima gukmul (kelp broth) can be used instead of water.
INGREDIENTS (serves 4)
• 1 oz/29g MIYEOK (dried seaweed), soaked in water until soft
• 3 cups WATER
• 2 teaspoons SOY SAUCE
• 2 tablespoons RICE VINEGAR (or lemon juice)
• 1 chopped SCALLION
• 1 small CUCUMBER, cut diagonally and cut into fine strips
• 1/2 teaspoon SESAME SEEDS, partially crushed with fingertips
1. After soaking, cut the miyeok approximately into 2"/5 cm long pieces with scissors. Blanch it in boiling water and immediately dip it in cold water. If you are using miyeok that has already been cooked and dried, then there is no need to cook it again after soaking.
2. Combine water (or dasima gukmul), soy sauce, vinegar. Then add miyeok, scallion and cucumber. Sprinkle sesame seeds before serving.
INGREDIENTS (serves 4)
• 1 oz/29g MIYEOK (dried seaweed), soaked in water until soft
• 3 cups WATER
• 2 teaspoons SOY SAUCE
• 2 tablespoons RICE VINEGAR (or lemon juice)
• 1 chopped SCALLION
• 1 small CUCUMBER, cut diagonally and cut into fine strips
• 1/2 teaspoon SESAME SEEDS, partially crushed with fingertips
1. After soaking, cut the miyeok approximately into 2"/5 cm long pieces with scissors. Blanch it in boiling water and immediately dip it in cold water. If you are using miyeok that has already been cooked and dried, then there is no need to cook it again after soaking.
2. Combine water (or dasima gukmul), soy sauce, vinegar. Then add miyeok, scallion and cucumber. Sprinkle sesame seeds before serving.
Sunday, 25 July 2010
www.justseaweed.com
Discussion to focus on seaweeds
GREENLAND — What can seaweeds tell us about the water quality of the Great Bay Estuary? Quite a bit.
On Aug. 4, researcher and biologist Jeremy Nettleton will speak at 7 p.m. in the Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center at the Great Bay Discovery Center. The free program will present Nettleton's findings on important changes in the seaweed community structure of Great Bay. Over the last several years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of "nuisance" algae blooms in parts of the estuary. These blooms can lead to the disappearance of key plant and animal species owing to shading, nutrient depletion, and hypoxic conditions.
Along with the blooms, an invasive red algal species, Gracilaria vermiculophylla, has been detected in the estuary. Along with the increased nitrogen levels in the bay, these invasive seaweeds can affect water quality.
Discussion to focus on seaweeds
GREENLAND — What can seaweeds tell us about the water quality of the Great Bay Estuary? Quite a bit.
On Aug. 4, researcher and biologist Jeremy Nettleton will speak at 7 p.m. in the Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center at the Great Bay Discovery Center. The free program will present Nettleton's findings on important changes in the seaweed community structure of Great Bay. Over the last several years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of "nuisance" algae blooms in parts of the estuary. These blooms can lead to the disappearance of key plant and animal species owing to shading, nutrient depletion, and hypoxic conditions.
Along with the blooms, an invasive red algal species, Gracilaria vermiculophylla, has been detected in the estuary. Along with the increased nitrogen levels in the bay, these invasive seaweeds can affect water quality.
Saturday, 24 July 2010
www.justseaweed.com
Guernsey's L'Eree beach has been cleared of a large bank of seaweed on Thursday, following a build up above the high water mark.
The Environment Department said the work was eco-friendly as the seaweed would be moved to the water's edge where wave action takes it out to sea.
It said the seaweed was a valuable food source for wading birds and removing it would jeopardise their habitats.
Clearances were also due to take place at the beaches at L'Ancresse and Cobo.
The department said the build up, which was caused by spring tides and south-westerly winds, would not be naturally removed by tidal action for several weeks.
It said in the past the seaweed washed onto Guernsey's beaches was a valuable resource for farmers and growers as fertilizer, but this was now only done by a handful of individuals.
It said that beach users were not keen on the weed, which becomes smelly when it decays.
It said as the tides would disperse the seaweed it would help to prevent degradation and loss of beach material, such as sand and pebbles.
Guernsey's L'Eree beach has been cleared of a large bank of seaweed on Thursday, following a build up above the high water mark.
The Environment Department said the work was eco-friendly as the seaweed would be moved to the water's edge where wave action takes it out to sea.
It said the seaweed was a valuable food source for wading birds and removing it would jeopardise their habitats.
Clearances were also due to take place at the beaches at L'Ancresse and Cobo.
The department said the build up, which was caused by spring tides and south-westerly winds, would not be naturally removed by tidal action for several weeks.
It said in the past the seaweed washed onto Guernsey's beaches was a valuable resource for farmers and growers as fertilizer, but this was now only done by a handful of individuals.
It said that beach users were not keen on the weed, which becomes smelly when it decays.
It said as the tides would disperse the seaweed it would help to prevent degradation and loss of beach material, such as sand and pebbles.
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