Spring to me, is the most glorious season, everywhere you look new life is emerging. From bulbs bursting through the ground into beautiful carpets of bluebells and crocuses, daffodils swaying in the breeze to cherry blossoms scattering their fragrant confetti. Lighter mornings and evenings, the warmth of the sun and the anticipation of summer ahead make it a wonderful time of year.
It’s not just on land that everything springs to life but in our British seas and oceans too. Springtime is a period of vibrant activity and ecological change. Driven by warming waters and increased sunlight, single-celled algae called phytoplankton multiply rapidly creating a ‘bloom’. It’s interesting to know that the word plankton, derived from the Greek word ‘planktos’ meaning wanderer. Jellyfish blooms are common, with various species appearing in British waters. Diatoms, a type of phytoplankton with beautiful shapes, often dominate the UK’s spring bloom.
Something known as an ‘ocean flip’ takes place too. As surface waters become lighter, they sink, bringing nutrients to the surface. This ‘ocean flip’ increases the availability of nutrients for phytoplankton and other marine life. All of which provide food for a plethora of marine animals.
Rock pools really come into their own during the spring months, encouraged by the increased daylight and warmer waters. Many species come to the shallower waters to breed and lay their eggs. Sea hares, named this due to their tentacles that resemble a pair of hare ears blend into seaweed-covered rocks to lay their long, pink egg strings. When threatened, they can release a cloud of purple ink to confuse predators.
Sea slugs, are certainly more spectacular than their land based cousins, in an array of stunning colours, with some species incorporating stinging cells from their prey for defence.
Sea lemons, the largest of the nudibranch, lay their long ribbon of eggs which are laid in a coil with one end attached to the seafloor. Creating a beautiful egg rosette that can be easily seen on the lower shore.
There are then the arrival of migratory species such as mackerel and basking sharks, drawn by the increased food availability. Not to mention the number of birds including Arctic tern, bar-tailed godwit, puffins, guillemots, razorbills, gannets and many more.
Everywhere around from woodlands and forests to rivers and seas, during the springtime months are bursting with life. Not only with floral blooms but coral blooms too.
If you are unable to visit the coast to see all that spring has to offer, why not bring a British shore rock pool to you.
For more information, contact Aqualease and the Aqua Explorer team for the British Shore Rock Pool Experience.
