IR23 Rockpooling Irish Coastal land stream mouth water

Students are invited to conduct a survey of the species present on the rockpooling seawall in Kilmore Quay. For this purpose, a presentation of the vegetals and animals was made, then the students were invited to visit the site. Unfortunately, the rain endedthis activity prematurely.

Plants: 

°Giant hogweed

Seeds are carried by water. Huge hogweed with thick hairy reddish stem, carrying umbrella-shaped seed heads. Can grow up to 5m. Gives very nasty burn.

°Himalayan Balsam

Impatiens glandulifera Seeds are carried by water- Many white or pink trumpet-shaped flowers on bushy 1-1.6m high annual. Can form dense stands or bands marking top of flood water. Seed pods explode when ripe.

°Japanese Knotweed

Fallopia japonica + similar Himalayan, Bohemian and Giant Knotweed) spread by fragments and rhizomes. Dense stands, hollow stems with distinct raised nodes (like bamboo), with leaves shaped like those of garden beans. Long clusters of small beige flowers from late summer.

°Giant Rhubarb- Gunnera tinctoria-

Spreads by seeds, fragments and rhizomes. Up to 2m. thick stems with hooked bristles. Massive leathery umbrella-shaped toothed leaves. Produces tiny red or orange seeds.

°Japanese seaweed- Sargassum muticum-

Spread by sporelings and fragments. Brown/yellowish long thin main stem seaweed with even side branches. Pin shape & size vesicles on stems. Growth up to 10 cm /day. Branches die back in autumn. Dried > black.

°Strawberry, beadlet anemone 

Animals: 
Rhazor shell- Blue mussel- Native oyster- Brown edible crab- Furrowed crab- Swimming velvet crab- Shanny - Barrel jellyfish- Dog whelk- Slipper limpet- Limpets- Cocklets - Sea urchins- Starfish

Rockpooling is a great activity to get you out and about in nature. Students really enjoyed to search and walk on rocks, try to finddifferent animals and talk a lot about their discoverings Standing over a rock pool can surprise, they never know what they mightfind lurking under the water.