Port Erin Bay Research Articles

The marine biological station of the University of Liverpool at Port Erin, Isle of Man: a new wing, and a new research vessel

The origins of the Marine Biological Station go back to 1885, when Professor, later Sir William, Herdman organized the Liverpool Marine Biological Committee. The Committee conducted dredging excursions in the Irish Sea, and also set up a very small shore laboratory on Puffin Island (off Anglesey) from 1887 to 1891. In 1892 activities were transferred to two small stone buildings (which still exist—see Pl. III) on Port Erin Bay. After nine years these buildings had become quite inadequate to accommodate the growing numbers both of visiting naturalists and of vacation classes which were started at Port Erin in 1897, so a further move was made to the present site at the south-west corner of Port Erin Bay in 1902.In 1919 the control and ownership of the Marine Biological Station was transferred from the L.M.B.C. to the University of Liverpool; until 1939 the Station formed part of the Department of Oceanography, from 1939 to 1949 it was part of the Department of Zoology, and since 1950 it has formed a separate Department of the University.The original building of 1902, whose whole seaward frontage still remains virtually unaltered (Pl. I), consisted of a central public aquarium (now room 5 on Text-fig. 1) flanked by a sea-fish hatchery (now 8, 9) and a few small research rooms (2,3,4,6,7), with two sizeable laboratories for student classes on the first floor (45–47 and 28, 30–32 on Text-fig. 2). A very valuable asset consisted of three large open-air ponds which still, after 65 years, perform their original function of maintaining a breeding stock of some 200 adult plaice.

On the biology of the opisthobranchPleurobranchus membranaceus

On 5 November 1958 our attention was drawn, by Mr A. K. Nagabhushanam, to the presence in Port Erin bay of large numbers of swimming gastropods. These gastropods proved on examination to bePleurobranchus membranaceus(Montagu), a species generally believed to be exclusively benthic in habit. This paper is a report on this occurrence and on some aspects of the biology of P.membranaceus.For 4 days these animals were abundant in the bay and hundreds could have been captured with a hand-net from the steps of the Raglan Pier. Only approximately forty specimens were taken, this number being ample for our purpose. Between 5 and 9 November, numbers were stranded on the beach by the receding tide. Although many local fishermen consented to look out for these easily recognizable animals, and the Port Erin research vessels were out each day, no record of their swimming outside the bay was obtained, although specimens were occasionally dredged. On 9 November they disappeared from the bay without trace, and otter trawl and D-net hauls in the bay yielded only two further specimens; none were found on frequent shore collecting expeditions. However, on 2 December five more specimens were captured swimming near the Raglan Pier and occasional individuals were seen in the same place on 9 December. During the periods of their abundance it was ascertained that they swam during the hours of darkness as well as in daytime.

Sublittoral algal population in Port Erin Bay, Isle of Man

In recent years much information has accumulated on the composition and distribution of algal populations in the Isle of Man, with increased knowledge of their ecological relationships (Knight & Parke, 1931, 1950; Jones, 1948; Lodge, 1948,1954; Burrows & Lodge, 1949, 1951; Southward, 1953). This, however, has mostly come from studies made in the intertidal region, and even here many problems remain for which, at present, no satisfactory explanation can be found. The mostdimcult of these, perhaps, relates to the appearance of algal species for a limited period of the year only: it is not known where and in what form their life-histories are continued for the rest of the year. The littoral and sublittoral regions are known to have many species in common. This means that the differences between the regions, as environments for the growth of algae, can be bridged by the plasticity of the species concerned. It seemed likely, therefore, that a detailed study of the sublittoral algal populations might help towards an understanding of the ecology of both regions and also of the interactions between them.

Pelagia in Manx Waters

THE occurrence of the scyphomedusan Pelagia near Plymouth referred to recently in Nature1 reminds one that early in October of 1899 the genus invaded Port Erin Bay, Isle of Man, in astonishing numbers. It was a truly remarkable spectacle. The sea looked as if converted into a solid mass of the jelly-fish. The species had not been reported in Manx waters before, nor has it been seen there since. They appeared suddenly, remained for a short time, and as suddenly disappeared. When the record was posted to the late E. T. Browne, he was at first very sceptical as to our identification; but an examination of some actual specimens enabled him to recognize the animal as Pelagia perla. He assumed that its presence in Manx waters was due to “a northerly current bringing down animals through the north channel from the Atlantic shores of Ireland and Scotland”. Two of the specimens are preserved in the Zoology Museum, University of Reading. It may be added that on August 10, 1903, a large shoal of Pelagia appeared in Valencia Harbour, along with a huge drift of Salpas on which the pelagias were feeding2.

XVI.—The Macrofauna of the Intertidal Sand of Kames Bay, Millport, Buteshire

During the last few years the distribution of the macrofauna, and to a less extent the microfauna, of the intertidal soils of the shores of Britain has received considerable attention and the principle that the species show a zonation with maximum densities at certain levels is now well established. The extensive studies of Elmhirst (1931) and of Stephen (1928, 1929, and 1930) on the fauna of the sandy and muddy areas of numerous Scottish bays has laid the foundation for much further work in this area. Pirrie, Bruce, and Moore (1932) have described the zonation of the fauna in the intertidal sand of Port Erin bay. Alexander, Southgate, and Bassindale (1935) refer to the fauna of the sand at the mouth of the River Tees, but mainly from the point of view of comparison with the fauna of the estuary. Crawford (1937 a and b)gives notes on the distribution and habits of certain intertidal species in sandy bays and estuaries in west England and south Wales. Rees (1939) has surveyed in outline, as part of a study of the interstitial sand copepods, the macrofauna of some sandy bays in north Donegal. Spooner and Moore (1940) have given a detailed description of the zonation of the species in the estuarine muds of the Tamar. A part from the above, reference must be made to two intensive studies on the soil fauna of the eastern shores of the North Sea, namely, that of Thamdrup (1935) on Danish shores and of Wohlenberg (1937) on certain bays on the island of Sylt. A general discussion of the ecological problems of sand, mud, and algal environments is given by Eemane (1933), based on the macrofauna and microfauna of Kiel bay. He reaches the conclusion, based on the number of species which occur in each environment, that the macrofauna of sand is comparatively poor compared with mud.

XVI.—The Macrofauna of the Intertidal Sand of Kames Bay, Millport, Buteshire

During the last few years the distribution of the macrofauna, and to a less extent the microfauna, of the intertidal soils of the shores of Britain has received considerable attention and the principle that the species show a zonation with maximum densities at certain levels is now well established. The extensive studies of Elmhirst (1931) and of Stephen (1928, 1929, and 1930) on the fauna of the sandy and muddy areas of numerous Scottish bays has laid the foundation for much further work in this area. Pirrie, Bruce, and Moore (1932) have described the zonation of the fauna in the intertidal sand of Port Erin bay. Alexander, Southgate, and Bassindale (1935) refer to the fauna of the sand at the mouth of the River Tees, but mainly from the point of view of comparison with the fauna of the estuary. Crawford (1937 a and b) gives notes on the distribution and habits of certain intertidal species in sandy bays and estuaries in west England and south Wales. Rees (1939) has surveyed in outline, as part of a study of the interstitial sand copepods, the macrofauna of some sandy bays in north Donegal. Spooner and Moore (1940) have given a detailed description of the zonation of the species in the estuarine muds of the Tamar. Apart from the above, reference must be made to two intensive studies on the soil fauna of the eastern shores of the North Sea, namely, that of Thamdrup (1935) on Danish shores and of Wohlenberg (1937) on certain bays on the island of Sylt. A general discussion of the ecological problems of sand, mud, and algal environments is given by Remane (1933), based on the macrofauna and microfauna of Kiel bay. He reaches the conclusion, based on the number of species which occur in each environment, that the macrofauna of sand is comparatively poor compared with mud.

A Case of Hermaphroditism and Viviparity in Echinocardium cordatum

In May, 1933, during routine gonad examinations, a hermaphrodite specimen of Echinocardium cordatum was observed. It was collected in the sandy beach of Port Erin Bay at low water of ordinary spring tides, and was 4.7 cm. in length, which corresponds, in a normal specimen, to an age of about four years. The external colour was dark, although not more so than in other specimens in the batch, but the gonad was exceptionally pigmented—almost black. In this locality the colour of the test and gonad becomes progressively darker with increasing age, and affords some measure of the latter.The specimen was examined within half an hour of being collected, and portions of the gonad were fixed within ten minutes of being opened, so that fertilization and segmentation could not have advanced in the laboratory to the stage found. Smears from the gonad showed ova, of which about 50% were ripe, together with ripe spermatozoa. The gonoduct contained ripe ova, together with segmenting ova and early embryos. Figure 1 is a photograph of the contents of the gonoduct, taken immediately after opening, and showing ova with a four-cell stage and a blastula. Cultures were set up in sterile sea-water, from the contents of the gonoduct, and also from the gonad itself, as well as a control fertilization from normal urchins, and from all of these normal early plutei were reared. Those cultures from the hermaphrodite specimen did not, however, develop much further, possibly owing to premature fertilization in the abnormal conditions in the gonad.

A COMPARISON OF THE SAND FAUNA OF PORT ERIN BAY IN 1900 AND IN 1933

A COMPARISON OF THE SAND FAUNA OF PORT ERIN BAY IN 1900 AND IN 1933 HILARY B. MOORE, PH.D. HILARY B. MOORE, PH.D. Biological StationPort Erin, I.O.M. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Journal of Molluscan Studies, Volume 20, Issue 6, November 1933, Pages 285–294, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.mollus.a064199 Published: 01 November 1933 Article history Received: 09 June 1933 Published: 01 November 1933

Breeding of Oysters (O. edulis) at Port Erin

THE success obtained by the Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in breeding oysters (O. edulis) in the experimental tanks at Conway and Lympne1 suggested that a similar use might be made of the large outdoor tanks or ponds at the Port Erin Marine Biological Station. In normal summers the sea temperature in Port Erin Bay rarely rises above 59° F. seawards of the beaches, owing to the steepness of the beaches and the mid sea position of the Isle of Man; the maximum is reached at about the end of August2. The stagnant water in the ponds, however, follows air temperature much more closely than the sea, and this year gave surface readings during July and the first three weeks of August ranging mostly between 62° and 65° F; a range favourable for oyster breeding

On the Occurrence of Echinus esculentus on the Foreshore in the British Isles

Echinus esculentus, the larger common sea-urchin, occurs in the British Isles between tide-marks on rocky shores at about low-water spring-tide level in the localities given in Table I, page 292. It is, however, absent from apparently suitable foreshores in the Plymouth district, for reasons which are discussed in the present paper. Chadwick (1) states that “In Port Erin Bay it may be collected by hand on the beach, and on the ruined breakwater at low water of spring tides.” Elmhirst (2) records that “In this district (Millport) E. esculentus occurs abundantly between tide-marks in spring and early summer on rocky coasts; a few may be found at almost any other season. About February or early March a shoreward migration seems to set in, so that in suitable weather conditions some hundreds may be collected at springs between April and June. Then their abundance decreases until about November,from when until January it is at a minimum.”