Invertebrates of shingle

Coastal shingle is a unique and fascinating habitat for invertebrates (Shardlow 2001). Two distinct habitats are recognised: saline-shingle beaches and terrestrial shingle. Some 390 species of importance to conservation have been recorded on shingle, including 15 Priority species, 18 species of Conservation Concern and 114 Red Data Book species. At least 11 shingle-specialist taxa occur in the UK, four of which are endemic. The current key factor threatening shingle invertebrates is thought to be changes in coastal sediment dynamics, related to management of the coastline and sea-level rise. In certain locations visitor pressure is also highly significant, which include the following categories:

Generally speaking this interest is best developed in areas where there is limited interference with the surface shingle. The most important site in the UK is Dungeness which despite the major losses still supports a significant invertebrate fauna (Shardlow 2001). List of species and their habitat preferences are provided as follows:

• invertebrates of dry habitats;
• invertebrates of wet/damp habitats;
• migrant species;
• invertebrates of manmade habitats.

References

Shardlow, E.A. 2001. A review of the conservation importance of shingle habitat for invertebrates in the United Kingdom (UK). In: Ecology & Geomorphology of Coastal Shingle, eds.Packham, J.R., Randall, R.E., Barnes, R.S.K. & Neal, A.Westbury Academic and Scientific Publishing, 355-377.