@article {Smith1979, title = {Mollusca of rocky shores: Lewis and Harris, Outer Hebrides}, journal = {Proc. R. Soc. Edinburgh. Sect. B. Biol. Sci.}, volume = {77}, year = {1979}, pages = {173{\textendash}187}, abstract = {

The history of previous molluscan work in the Outer Hebrides shows that most work has been done offshore, and that the littoral zone of Lewis and Harris has been neglected. Mollusc populations of different macro- and micro-habitats were examined empirically, and compared and contrasted with each other. Habitats have been chosen to exhibit as wide a variety of environment as possible, from the wave-lashed exposed rocks facing the Atlantic to the very sheltered sea lochs opening into the Minch. The richness and diversity of the fauna is noted.

}, keywords = {Harris, Invertebrates, Lewis, littoral, Loch Roag, Marine, Marine Molluscs, molluscs, Outer Hebrides}, author = {Smith, S M} } @article {Waterston2011a, title = {The inland waters of the Outer Hebrides}, journal = {Proc. R. Soc. Edinburgh. Sect. B. Biol. Sci.}, volume = {77}, year = {1979}, pages = {329-351}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, abstract = {

The Outer Hebrides comprise approximately 1\·3\% of the land area but 15\·8\% of the area of standing waters of Great Britain. Streams there are generally small and only three are as large as fifth order. The majority of the lochs occur below 200 m altitude and are less than 25 ha in area. A total of 1375 stream systems enter the sea, and drain the land mass through 9240 stream segments. There are just over 6000 lochs, of which less than half are connected to these networks. Most of the water systems are on geologically base-poor rock or soil, and less than 3\%, situated on machair, are base-rich and eutrophic. The islands, due to their situation, receive precipitation in the form of very dilute sea water (with some non-marine sulphate probably derived from fossil fuel combustion) and this leads to unusual concentrations of chloride in the inland waters. Metamorphic rocks are resistant to weathering, so there is usually little variation in the composition of fresh waters except in the machair areas, where calcareous sands affect calcium concentrations and alkalinities.

The flora and fauna reflect the aqueous conditions and there are some unique successions of species from high to low salinities even in the same water body. The lochs provide a wide range of habitats for aquatic vegetation, ranging from the rich machair lochs to the oligotrophic peaty lochs (which show marked similarities with their counterparts on the mainland). Three broad categories can be delineated on the basis of their water quality and vegetation: brackish lochs with varying degrees of marine influence, calcareous machair lochs which may also be affected by sea connections, and the peaty lochans of low alkalinity. A few brackish water animals are sufficiently euryhaline to exist in the machair lochs, which are otherwise dominated by freshwater species. The occurrence of chloride in inland waters enables some crustaceans, e.g. Neomysis integer, Gammarus duebeni and Diaptomus wierzejskii to extend into what are poor freshwater habitats. The main constituents of the freshwater fauna are molluscs and arthropods, and a few species of euryhaline fishes, i.e. salmon, sea and brown trout, three-spined and ten-spined sticklebacks and eels. There are some populations of non-migratory charr. No amphibians are present.

}, keywords = {Invertebrates, Outer Hebrides}, issn = {0269-7270}, doi = {10.1017/S0269727000012781 }, url = {http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online\&aid=8378833\&fulltextType=RA\&fileId=S0269727000012781}, author = {Waterston, A.R and Holden, A.V. and Campbell, R.N and Maitland, P.S.} } @article {Angus2011, title = {The macrofauna of intertidal sand in the Outer Hebrides}, journal = {Proc. R. Soc. Edinburgh. Sect. B. Biol. Sci.}, volume = {77}, year = {1979}, month = {dec}, pages = {155{\textendash}171}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, abstract = {

The abundance and composition of the macrofauna of Outer Hebridean beaches is determined mainly by the degree of exposure to wave action. Most of the beaches are on the western seaboard, many without any form of shelter, and thus receive the full force of the Atlantic swell.

Twenty principal sites in Lewis and Harris were sampled for intertidal macrofauna.

Beaches of open aspect are populated by amphipods and Eurydice pulchra with very low densities of polychaetes. The sands of the Minch coast and some of the western beaches which are sheltered by islands or headlands usually have a Tellina\–Nephtys association, with a tendency for Tellina tenuis to be replaced by Donax vittatus with increasing shelter. Very sheltered inlets and the fords of the Uists have a well-developed Cerastoderma-Macoma association, while Traigh Mhor in Barra, dominated by Cerastoderma edule, has the richest fauna of any beach in the Outer Hebrides.

}, keywords = {Marine Invertebrates, Outer Hebrides}, issn = {0269-7270}, doi = {10.1017/S0269727000012707}, url = {http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0269727000012707}, author = {Stewart Angus} } @article {Bailey2011, title = {The fish and shellfish resources in seas adjacent to the Outer Hebrides}, journal = {Proc. R. Soc. Edinburgh. Sect. B. Biol. Sci.}, volume = {77}, year = {1979}, month = {dec}, pages = {479{\textendash}494}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, abstract = {

The demersal fishery in Hebridean seas is based mainly on haddock, whiting and cod, mostly from local spawning grounds, with some recruitment from the North Sea. An important seasonal fishery for dogfish is based on a highly migratory stock. All these stocks are probably fully exploited.

Herring spawning grounds occur west and north of Lewis, and larvae drift eastwards to nursery areas, mainly in the North Sea. Enhanced recruitment in the late 1960s and an increase in fishing effort produced a large increase in landings but these have subsequently declined. The west coast herring fishery is subject to quota regulations for conservation. There are also important exploitable stocks of mackerel and sprats. Since 1971 an industrial fishery for Norway pout has taken a few thousand tonnes per annum.

Shellfishing by small boats goes with crofting. Since 1962 the number of larger boats has increased with full-time fishing, particularly for Norway lobsters and lobsters. Exploitation has been helped by processing and lobster-holding facilities. Scallops and periwinkles are also important commercially and there are good prospects for cultivating oysters and mussels.

By far the largest underexploited fish stock is blue whiting, which migrates south to spawn in March-April on the continental slope in depths of over 400 m to the west of Scotland. The spawning stock in this area is estimated to be 5-15 million tonnes. Sandeels may also occur in commercial quantities in some areas.

}, keywords = {Fish, Marine Molluscs, Outer Hebrides}, issn = {0269-7270}, doi = {10.1017/S0269727000012860}, url = {http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0269727000012860}, author = {Bailey, R. S. and Hislop, J. R. G. and Mason, J.} } @article {Boyd2011, title = {The natural environment of the Outer Hebrides}, journal = {Proc. R. Soc. Edinburgh. Sect. B. Biol. Sci.}, volume = {77}, year = {1979}, month = {dec}, pages = {3{\textendash}19}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press}, abstract = {

The historical review of scientific work done in the Outer Hebrides precedes a scientific profile of the archipelago including geographical, geological, botanical, zoological and resource outlines. Effects of the use of natural resources by man on the natural environment are discussed. Management of land and water for the purposes of nature conservation are given by descriptions of the Loch Druidibeg and Monach Islands National Nature Reserves and other Sites of Special Scientific Interest. These exemplify existing case studies and procedures in nature conservation conducted by the Nature Conservancy Council and others. In conclusion, the Outer Hebrides are set in the context of the National Planning Guidelines of the Scottish Development Department which show resources of \‘national\’ importance in agriculture and nature conservation.

}, keywords = {Outer Hebrides}, isbn = {doi:10.1017/S0269727000012604}, issn = {0269-7270}, doi = {10.1017/S0269727000012604}, url = {http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0269727000012604}, author = {Boyd, John Morton} }