Rare Wildlife On The Beach

A rare beetle never before seen in Dorset and a special plant not seen in the county for over 100 years are among the finds from a new study of beach wildlife. The survey by Dorset Wildlife Trust of 8 beaches has found an astonishing variety of wildlife living on the seaweed and debris washed up by the tide. The rotting seaweed of this rich strandline provides food for many insects and other bugs, which in turn provide food for larger animals. It also supplies nutrients in an otherwise hostile environment for plants, which help to stabilise the sand and shingle, creating a natural coastal defence for the land behind.

What wildlife has been found on the Dorset beaches?

The rove beetle, Aleochara obscurella, was recorded for the first time ever in Dorset, with a good-sized population at Kimmeridge. A predator on smaller invertebrates, the beetle has since been found on other beaches within the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve, including Broad Bench and Chapman’s Pool, especially where there are large piles of kelp seaweed.

Sea stock(Matthiola sinuata), a specialised beach plant, was recorded for the first time in the county for over 100 years at Studland’s Shell Bay. With its pale lilac flowers and delicate scent, this rare member of the brassica family is threatened by the disappearance of sand dunes and disturbance by beach visitors. The nearest known sites are North Devon and the Channel Islands, the latter being a likely source of the wave-blown seeds for the Studland plant.

What should we look for when we are at the beaches?

Julie Hatcher, Marine Awareness Officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “These finds are very exciting and show how important beach strandlines are for wildlife. Beaches where the strandline is not removed, such as Studland, Kimmeridge and Ringstead, are the ones with the richest and rarest plants and animals, so while you might screw your nose up at a smelly heap of rotting seaweed in a corner of the beach, rest assured that it is a wildlife haven, home to some of the rarest plants and animals in the county.”

What Dorset beaches have been surveyed?

The beaches surveyed were Studland (Shell Bay), Swanage (North), Chapmans Pool, Kimmeridge, Worbarrow, Mupe Bay, Osmington Mills and Ringstead, with new species records at every one, including a number of very rare invertebrates, most of which live exclusively on or around the strandline. Many birds and mammals were also found, including pygmy shrews at Kimmeridge and snow buntings at Studland, as well as many coastal and garden birds.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor

For more information please contact Julie Hatcher at Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01929 481044.
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About Dorset Wildlife Trust www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
Dorset Wildlife Trust was founded in 1961 to protect the wildlife and natural habitats of the county and now has over 25,000 members and manages over 40 nature reserves. Most are open daily and there are visitor centres providing a wealth of wildlife information at Brooklands Farm, Lorton Meadows, Kingcombe Meadows and Brownsea Island Nature Reserves, The Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve and the Urban Wildlife Centre at Upton Heath Nature Reserve.

The largest voluntary nature conservation organisation in Dorset, DWT plays a key role in dealing with local environmental issues. It leads the way in establishing the practices of sustainable development and engaging new audiences in conservation, particularly in the urban areas.