Widewater Lagoon, Sussex

W_widewater1

Saline lagoons are an uncommon ecosystem. In Sussex Widewater Lagoon is a significant example, 1200 m long with a maximum width of 50 m. As such it is both a Local Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest and has attracted a great deal of attention. A number of special species have been found, including a new species of Sea Anemone which has subsequently been declared extinct but could still be present (see species list), a hydroid and crustacean (see bold in list below).

W_egret

Links
Lancing Nature
Glaucus
Lancing Parish Council
Joint Nature Conservation Committee Saline Lagoons h
University of Sussex
English Nature

Widewater Lagoon: Gallery of Life

Species Found:
Widewater Species List including losses.

FLORA
Ruppia maritima
Chaetomorpha mediterranea
Cladophora laetevirens
Enteromorpha intestinalis
Derbesia marina
Ulva lactuca
Rhizoclonium tortuosum

Rhodophycota – filamentous sp.
Baccillariophyceae
Cyanophyta

FAUNA
Protozoa
Cothurnia
Chaetospira
sp.
Vorticella sp.
Zoothamnion sp.
Climacostomum sp.
Omalogyra atomus
Quinqueloculina
sp.
Sponges
Prosuberites epiphytum
Cnidaria
Edwardsia ivelli Ivell`s sea anemone*
Pachycordyle michaeli (=Clavopsella (=Thieliana) navis) a hydroid; further information.

Actinia equina
Halecium sp. a hydroid
Nemertea
Nemertea indet.
Annelida
Armandia cirrhosa lagoon sandworm
Arenicola marina
Lumbrineris
sp.
Enchytraeidae indet.
Tubificoides benedi
Tubifex
sp.
Hediste diversicolor
Perinereis cultrifera
Sipuncula
Golfingiidae
indet.
Mollusca
Hydrobia ventrosa
Hydrobia neglecta
Hydrobia ulvae
Rissostomia
sp.
Cerastoderma glaucum< Lagoon Cockle
Abra tenuis
Littorina rudis
Littorina tenebrosa
Tenellia adspersa
the Lagoon Seaslug
Insecta
Chironominae
Culicidae
Berosus spinosus
Berosus
sp.
Helochares lividus
Hydrobius
sp.
Enochrus bicolor
Corixinae
Crustacea

Lekanesphaera sp.
Ostracod sp.
Harpacticoid sp
Gammarus insensiblis lagoon sand shrimp
Gammarus duebeni
Gammarus
sp.
Maera grossimana
Melita palmata
Schistomysis
sp.
Palaemonetes varians
Apherusa jurinei
Microdeutopus gryllotalpa

Cumacea
Isaeidae
Lysianassidae
Carcinus maenas
Bryozoa
Bowerbankia
sp.
Bowerbankia gracilis
Conopium seurati
Membranipora membranacea
Nolella dilatata
Cryptosula pallasiana
Electra
sp.
Einhornia crustulenta
Bugula stonolifera
Echinodermata

Amphipholis squamata
Fish
Gasterosteus aculeatus

W_Salicornia_annua

* species on described from Widewater; now declared extinct but this may not be the case as it is extremely difficult to find.
Species in bold are of special significance.

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Unless otherwise stated all images are Copyright of Gerald Legg, naturaimaging. If you would like to use any images, then high resolution ones can be obtained by contacting me.

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