The Ecology of Lough Ine: IX. The Flora and Fauna Associated with Undergrowth-forming Algae in the Rapids Area

at the north and south ends of the Rapids the currents do not exceed about 01 m/sec (Bassindale et al. 1948). Organisms inhabiting the fronds of the large brown algae (Saccorhiza polyschides and Laminaria digitata) are exposed to the current, but those inhabiting sub-littoral boulders or small algae are partly sheltered by the overlying canopy of fronds, which forms a slippage plane (Kitching et al. 1952). Nevertheless there are striking differences in the fauna of boulders off Mark 7 and from more sheltered regions (Lilly et al. 1953), which are probably to be explained in part by secondary influences of the current, such as the control of sedimentation. For this work seven stations were chosen to provide a comparison between the Lough (Codium Bay and Renouf's Bay), the Rapids (Stations Nos. 1, 3 and 5), and Barloge