XIV.—Studies on the Scottish Marine Fauna: The Fauna of the Sandy and Muddy Areas of the Tidal Zone

Abstract

In 1926 a quantitative examination of the fauna of the intertidal sands in the Cumbrae, Firth of Clyde, was begun, and the results proved so interesting that it was decided to extend the survey to other parts of the Scottish coast, the object being to study the variation in density and composition of the fauna, with special reference to the two groups of molluscs and polychætes, from place to place, and at various levels on the beach. During the past two years observations have been made in three widely separated areas, namely, on the Ayrshire coast and Firth of Clyde, on the southern shore of the Moray Firth, and on the east coast of Scotland and in the Firth of Forth. In all, twenty-five bays or stretches of coast have been visited, and over one hundred and fifty quantitative collections worked through.