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Falmouth 2015 - Group 1

Location of the Fal estuary

The Fal estuary is located in South Cornwall. Stretching 127km around the shoreline, the Fal represents the largest estuary in England.



Characteristics of the Fal

The Fal estuary being the world’s 3rd largest natural harbour is a

commercially important estuary for tourism and maritime trade,

owing its success to its favourable topography and characteristics.

The estuary is macro tidal, with a maximum spring tide of 5.3m at

Falmouth. However, at Truro the estuary becomes mesotidal with a

maximum spring tide of 3.5m. The estuary was formed due to

glacial movement, where sea level rise at the end of the last

glaciation period onset the drowning of several river valleys.

This led to the formation of the ria which includes the Fal estuary.  

The estuary therefore consists of extensive mudflat, sandy shore and

some area of saltmarsh. (Langston) et al., 2006) (See table 2) This

means the estuary is also important for conservation.









Therefore, a range of habitats are provided for marine life dwelling in the Fal estuary. The Fal estuary is considered ecologically important and is a designated SAC (special area of conservation). This is due to the particular scientific interest caused by the Fal’s maerl beds which provides a unique combination of marine species. (Farnham, Bishop, 1985) The extensive mudflats also provide a habitat for many wading birds and invertebrate infauna such as molluscs and burrowing crustaceans. (Cornwall Wildlife trust, 2015)

However, despite being a SAC the Fal estuary’s unique waters have experienced anthropogenic modification due to the effects of previous mining pollution. This pollution is most apparent at Restronguet Creek due to its close proximity to the abandoned mines. As a result of mining drainage, high levels of copper and zinc are dissolved in the water forming one of the most metal polluted estuaries in the UK. (Rijstenbil et al, 1991) Metals of particular concern to the marine environment include As, Cu, Zn, Cd and Fe leading to toxic effects in organisms. For example, organisms such as cockles have accumulated Cu to levels which in some cases can be lethal. (Langston et al., 2006). The accumulation of pollutants has also changed the algal composition, where there were micromolar concentrations of copper and zinc such as in Restronguet Creek. For example, Euglena mutabilis, a metal resistant acidophyllic flagellate occurred. (Rijstenbil et al, 1991)


References

Cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk, (2015). Cornwall Wildlife Trust | Our nature reserves | Fal-Ruan Estuary Nature Reserve. [online] Available at: http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature_reserves/where_to_find_the_nature_reserves_1/Cornwall_ Wildlife_Trust_Fal_Ruan_Estuary_nature_reserve_Roseland [Accessed 24 Jun. 2015].

Fal and Helford Pilot Project, (2015). South West Marine Science Forum. [online] Mba.ac.uk. Available at: http://www.mba.ac.uk/swmsf/EN_project.php [Accessed 17 Feb. 2015].

Farnham, W.F, Bishop, G.M, 1985, ‘Survey of the Fal Estuary, Cornwall’, Progress in Underwater Science, 10, 53-63.

Langston, W., Chesman, B., Burt, G., Taylor, M., Covey, R., Cunningham, N., Jonas, P. and Hawkins, S. (2006). Characterisation of the European Marine Sites in South West England: The Fal and Helford Candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC). Hydrobiologia, 555(1), pp.321-333.

Rijstenbil, J., Merks, A., Peene, J., Poortvliet, T. and Wijnholds, J. (1991). Phytoplankton composition and spatial distribution of copper and zinc in the Fal Estuary (Cornwall, UK). Hydrobiological Bulletin, 25(1), pp.37-43.





Figure 1: Map of the Fal Estuary (Fal and Helford Pilot Project, 2015) (Blue area is Special Area of Conservation) (Click to enlarge)

Who are we?

Every summer, 2nd year marine biology and oceanography students from the University of Southampton migrate to Falmouth to carry out fieldwork to assess the biological, physical and chemical oceanographic features of the Fal Estuary. This included taking measurements of the oceanographic parameters present in estuarine and offshore waters (eg temperature, salinity, nutrient and chlorophyll content), as well as a geophysical habitat map survey and pontoon work. This website was designed to display the findings of students in Group 1, from the 22nd June to 4th July 2015. This is our group:

Gen Hinde

Oceanography

Kate Chadwick

Marine Biology

Nick Reynard

Oceanography

Dom Smith

Oceanography

Tim Wiese

Marine Biology

Trina Davies

Marine Biology

Emily Sym

Oceanography

Rachael James

Oceanography with French

Amy Jewell

Oceanography with French

Flo Aguesse

Oceanography

Table 2: Breakdown of habitats in the Fal Estuary

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Disclaimer: The views expressed here are not associated with those of the National Oceanography Centre Southampton or the University of Southampton.