Marine Natural History is beset with difficulties that do not arise in the study of terrestrial animals and plants. A  severe handicap is the difficulty of observing most sea creatures in their natural habitats, often because of short tides, bad weather and too often man’s contempt for the environment. During the last few years however there has been an increase in our awareness of this sensitive ecosystem but even so we still see gulls drowning in oil and sewage on our beaches.

This paper is an account of the flora and fauna of the River Adur estuary in West Sussex as observed between the years of 1960 and 1992.

Estuaries act as nurseries for many young sea fish it being safe there from some of their enemies. Food in the form of phytoplankton and zooplankton is plentiful. Some marine animals spend their life there while others visit to feed on the living broth that abounds within the river during the summer months.

As marine life in an estuary is affected by the salinity of the water I have zoned the river into three parts. There are notes on the animals and plants that occupy them for the greater part of a normal year. I have indicated the nature of the river at each zone which at its mouth is a large commercial port while a few miles up river are extensive mud flats, sand bars and salt water creeks.

SITES COVERED

ZONE 1

From the West Breakwater in a line from the Sussex Wharf to Railway Wharf in the west. Then from the East Breakwater across the outer lay-by taking in Kingston Beach, the Middle Pier and the Lifeboat slipway.

ZONE 2

Sussex Wharf up-river to the Norfolk Bridge including the Saltings, both sides of the river going west.

ZONE 3

The Norfolk Bridge to the A27 flyover, both sides of the river including the creeks around Shoreham Airport.

ZONE 1

The harbour with its large breakwaters, docks, wharf pilings and piers could be described as a large tidal pool basin. This zone is truly marine; the movements of tides and the reduced exposure to the prevailing South West wind is a haven for a host of marine flora and fauna.

Looking at the marine vegetation is a good indicator to the shelter the harbour affords. Most common are the Saw and Bladder wrack, both Fucus species, that are also a good indicator of tidal zones. At low water a large sandbar is uncovered opposite the light house on Kingston Beach with big concrete blocks running out to the Middle Pier from the shore.

In this tidal basin most of the wharf pilings are of wood that provides a home for a multitude of algae, hydroids, sponges, truncates and barnacles. Fish and crabs forage around this rich feeding ground and in some cases make their permanent homes there.

ZONE 2

The start of zone 2 though still close to the sea is a place of change. Gone are the sand bars and rocks these being replaced with iron pilings and shifting mud at their bases. Large ships unload sand and shingle, scrap iron and wood. At low tide they sit on the mud which on the low spring tides may only give them four to six feet of water. The sea weed is different here. Gone are the Bladder and Saw  wrack this being replaced with other Fucus species more tolerant to long exposure and changes in the water composition.

Within this zone is a modern fish market and Shorehams commercial fishing fleet moorings. The Yacht Club is positioned to the north side of the river just prior to the footbridge. The Adur opens out here to a large expanse of mud flats to the west known as the Saltings. This extends north to the A259 and Norfolk Bridge. The Shoreham town centre is located between the footbridge and Norfolk Bridge beyond the eastern and north-eastern banks of the river.
 
 

 
ZONE 3

Click on the map to enlarge

The photographer (Andy Horton) is standing at the spot marked in red on the enlarged map and the lowest point of the spring tide
 

Moving upstream from the Norfolk Bridge the river is wide with a strong flow evident even on the lowest tides. The bottom is very hard with rocks, stones and vast mussel beds (Mytilus edulis). A public hard, Ropetackle, with a large waste water pipe enters the river here.

Extensive salt water pools lie on this reach at low tide, created by the keels of boats moving on their moorings. The river starts to bend to the east, passing under the railway bridge and the nature of the bed changes once again. Here sizeable sand bars have been laid down and alongside the airport high salt marshes interlaced with creeks run along the western bank. These appear to have been created by sediments becoming trapped and deposited around the plant stems. Long, low sand bars lay to the north and south of the Old Toll Bridge which appear to have started to restrict the flow causing the river to divide into two. One channel runs deep and fast, the other to the west is shallow with a slower flow. The A27 flyover bridge spans the river beyond this point.
 

Notes on the following records:
Taxonomy and scientific names may have been changed. The records have been included as they were originally recorded from 1960 to 1992 when the surveys were first made. There are also a few queries over identification (?), but these have not been amended and the original records have been included without alteration.

SUBLITTORAL SPECIES RECORDED

CLASS CALCAREA   SPONGES
 

Leucosolenia	complicata
Sycon	ciliatum
Grantia	compressa	:	Purse	Sponge

CLASS DEMOSPONGIAE    SPONGES
 

Halichondria

panicea

:

Breadcrumb

Sponge

CLASS HYDROZOA

  Hermit Crab with the hydroid Hydractinia echinata
 

Hydractinia	echinata	(on	Hermit	Crab	Shell)
Obelia	geniculata
Tubularia	indivisa
Clava	multicornis
Sertularia	cupressina
Plumularia	catharina

CLASS ANTHOZOA    SEA-ANEMONES AND THEIR ALLIES

Actinia equina    Beadlet Anemone   (green, red and less common strawberry form)
Anemone sulcata     :    Opelet or Snakelocks Anemone
Tealia felina      :   Dahlia Anemone
Metridium senile  (white and pink forms)  : Plumose Anemone
Sagartia ornata     :    Burrowing Anemone

CLASS TENTACULATA

Pleurobrachia pileus    :    Sea Gooseberry

CLASS TUBELLARIA    FLATWORMS

Oligocladus sanguinolentus
Prostheceraeus vittatus

RIBBON WORMS

Lineus longissimus     :    Bootlace Worm

CLASS POLYCHAETA    BRISTLE WORMS
 

Harmothoe	impar	:	Scale	Worm
Polynoe	scolopendrina	:	Scale	Worm
Nereis	diversicolor	:	Red	Ragworm
Nereis	fucata	(in	Hermit	Crab	Shells)	:   Ragworm
Eulalia	viridis	:	GreenBristle	Worm
Nephtys	caeca	:	White	Ragworm
Cirriformia	tentaculata	:	Red	Thread Worm
Cirratulus	cirratus	:	Red Thread	Worm

CLASS POLYCHAETA BRISTLE WORMS  Continued

          Keelworms

CLASS POLYPLACOPHORA CHITONS
 

Lepidochitona	cinereus
Lepidochitona	asellus

CLASS GASTROPODA SNAILS AND SLUGS

Slipper Limpet & the European Oyster
 

Patella	vulgata	:	Common	Limpet
Patella	intermedia	:	Limpet
Gibbula	umbilicalis	:	Purple Topshell
Gibbula	cineraria	:	Grey  Topshell
Littorina	littoralis	:	Flat Periwinkle
Littorina	saxatilis	:	Rough Periwinkle
Littorina	neritoides	:	Small Periwinkle
Littorina	lapillus	:	Edible Periwinkle
Crepidula	fornicata	:	Slipper Limpet
Nucella	lapillus	:	Dogwhelk
Hydrobia	ulvae	:	Laver	Spire Shell
Buccinum	undatum	:	Common Whelk
Nassarius	reticulatus	:	Netted	Dogwhelk
Aeolidia	papillosa	:	Grey	Sea Slug
Archidoris	psuedoargus	:	Sea	Lemon

Sea Slug (Nudibranch) page

CLASS BIVALVIA
 

Mytilis	edulis	:   Sea	Mussel
Ostrea	edulis	:   English	Oyster
Cardium	edule	:	Common Cockle
Scrobicularia	plana	:   Peppery	Furrow	Shell
Venerupis	pullastra	:   Carpet	Shell
Pholas	dactylus	:   Common	Piddock
Teredo	navalis	:	ShipWorm

CLASS CRUSTACEA BARNACLES
 

Semibalanus	balanoides	:   Acorn	Barnacle
Chthamalus	montagui
Balanus	improvisus	:   Acorn	Barnacle
Sacculina	carcini	:   Parasitic	Barnacle

SUBCLASS MYSIDACEA   OPPOSUM SHRIMPS
 

Neomysis

integer

ORDER ISOPODA

  Ligia oceanica

SEA SLATERS
http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~sakurai/whyligia.html
 

Idotea	chelipes
Sphaeroma	rugicauda
Limnorea	lignorum	:   Gribble
Ligia	oceanica	:	Sea Slater
Gammarus	locusta	:   Sand	Hopper
Corophium	volutator
Caprella	linaeris	:	Ghost Shrimp

ORDER DECAPODA

Carcinus maenas
 
 

Alpheus	ruber	:	Snapping	Prawn
Crangon	vulgaris	:	Common Shrimp
Leander	serratus	:	Common Prawn
Palaemonetes	varians	:	Estuary Prawn
Galathea	squamifera	:	Squat	Lobster
Porcellana	platycheles	:	Broad Clawed	Porcelain	Crab
Porcellana	longicornis	:	Long-clawed	Porcelain	Crab
Eupagurus	bernhardus	:	Common	Hermit Crab
Macropodia	tenuirostris	:	Spider Crab		(?)
Inachus	dorsettensis	:	Spider	Crab	(?)
Hyas	araneus	:	Spider	Crab
Carcinus	maenas	:	Common	Shore Crab
Cancer	pagurus	:	Edible	Crab
Corystes	cassivelaunus	:	Masked Crab
Pinnotheres	pisum	:	Pea	Crab
Macropipus	puber	:	Velvet Swimming	Crab
Pilumnus	hirtellus	:	Hairy Crab

CLASS INSECTA
 

Petrobius	maritimus	:	Bristle-tail
Lipura	maritima	:	Spring-tail

CLASS PYCNOGONIDA

Nymphon gracile     :    Sea Spider

CLASS GYMNOLAEMATA

Bowerbankia imbricata
Membranipora membranacea   :    Sea Mat
Flustra foliacea     :    Hornwrack
Bugula Turbinata

CLASS ASTEROIDEA
 

Asterias

rubens

:

Common Starfish

CLASS ASTEROIDEA  Cont.

Arcrocnida brachiata    :    Brittle Star (very small)

CLASS ECHINOIDEA
 

Strongylocentrotus

droebrachiensis (?)

:

Green

Sea-Urchin

CLASS ASCIDIACEA    SEA SQUIRTS
 
 

CLASS OSTEICHTHYES   BONY FISHES
 

Pouting
 

Salmo	trutta	:	Sea	Trout
Anguilla	anguilla	:	Common Eel
Trisopterus	lusca	:	Pouting or	Bib
Pollachius	pollachius	:	Pollack
Gaidropsarus	mediterraneus (?)	:	Shore	Rockling
Ammodytes	lancea	:	Lesser Sandeel
Syngnathus	acus	:	Greater Pipefish
Nerophis	lumbriciformis	:	Worm Pipefish
Syngnathus	rostellatus	:	Lesser Pipefish	or	Nilssons	Pipefish
Atherina	presbyter	:	Sand Smelt
Liza	ramada (?)	:	Thin-lipped	Grey	Mullet
Trachurus	trachurus	:	Horse	Mackerel
Scomber	scombrus	:	Mackerel
Labrus	bergylta	:	Ballan Wrasse
Crenilabrus	melops	:	Corkwing Wrasse
Callionymus	lyra	:	Dragonet	(young females	only)
Pholis	gunnellus	:	Butterfish or	Gunnel
Blennius	pholis	:	Shanny or	Blenny
Blennius	gattorugine	:	Tompot Blenny	(very	young)
Gobius	niger	:	Black Goby
Gobius	paganellus	:	Rock Goby
Pomatoschistus	minutus	:	Sand Goby
Gobiusculus	flavescens	:	Two-spot Goby
Agonus	cataphractus	:	Armed	Bullhead	(very young)
Cottus	bubalis	:	Long-Spined	Sea	Scorpion
Spinachia	spinachia	:	Fifteen Spined	Sea	Stickleback
Gasterosteus	aculeatus	:	Three spined	Stickleback
Scophthalmus	maximus	:	Turbot	(very young	specimens)
Scophthalmus	rhombus	:	Brill	(very young	specimens)
Pleuronectes	limanda	:	Dab	(very young	specimens)
Pleuronectes	platessa	:	Plaice	(very young	specimens)
Solea	solea	:	Dover Sole
Platechthys	flesus	:	Flounder
Dicentrarchus	labrax	:	Bass

CLASS CHLOROPHYCEAE    GREEN ALGAE     ZONE
 

Blidingia	minima         1,	2	&	3
Enteromorpha	compressa        1,	2	&	3
Enteromorpha	intestinalis        2	&	3
Ulva	lactuce	:	Sea Lettuce	1,	2	&	3
Cladophora	rupestris        1,	2	&	3
Derbesia	marina         1	&	2

 

CLASS PHAEOPHYCEAE    BROWN ALGAE

Laminaria saccharina         1
Fucus serratus     :    Saw Wrack  1
Fucus spiralis     :    Flat Wrack  1
Fucus ceranoides     :     1, 2 & 3
Fucus visiculosus     :    Bladder Wrack 1
Pelvetia canaliculata     :    Channel Wrack 1
Porphyra umbilicalis    :    Laver  1 & 2

CLASS RHODOPHYCEAE   RED ALGAE

Gigartina stellata        1
Chondrus crispus  1, 2 & 3

FLORA OF SHINGLY BEACHES  (ZONE 1)
 

Glaucium	flavum	:	Yellow	Horned Poppy
Solanum	dulcumara	:	Bittersweet
Anagallis	arvensis	:	Scarlet Pimpernel
Armeria	maritima	:	Sea-pinks   or	Thrift
Beta	maritima	:	Sea	Beet
Plantago	maritima	:	Sea	Plantain
Brassica	oleracea	:	Wild Cabbage
Foeniculum	vulgare	:	Fennel
Silene	maritima	:	Sea	Campion
Daucus	gigidium	:	Sea	Carrot
Sedum	acre	:	Yellow Stonecrop
Crambe	maritima	:	Sea	Kale
Echium	vulgare	:	Viper’s Bugloss
Calystegia	soldanella	:	Sea	Bindweed
Linaria	vulgaris	:	Common Toadflax
Centranthus	ruber	:	Red	Valerian

FLORA	OF	THE	SALTMARSH	(ZONE	2	&	3)
Halimione	portaculoides	:	Sea	Purslane
Suaeda	maritima	:	Sea-blite
Salicornia	sp.	:	Glasswort
Aster	tripolium	:	Sea	Aster
Limonium	vulgare	:	Sea	Lavender

Adur:  Nature Notes 2003
Adur Valley
Shoreham-by-Sea Wildlife
River Adur Estuary Page
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