UKC

I reckon there’s been a noticeable increase in the amount of seaweed growing on the rocks between HWM and LWM this spring. This is in west Cornwall, both granite and the other rocks. I don’t know what sort of seaweed it is, it’s green and forms small clumps with leaves (?) maybe 5cm long.

I wonder what’s caused it (winter storms? Global warming?) and whether it will go away of its own accord. It’s a real pain trying to remove even small amounts from crucial holds. What eats seaweed?

Wild speculation or expert opinion welcome.

In reply to Andy2:

entirely a guess, but eutrophication sounds like a possible candidate, although that's more a problem with algal blooms than higher plants.

In reply to toad:
You could be right increased nitrogen runoff from the land ( farms) due to precipitation ( it has been a wet winter) can cause algae to grow more prolific, eutrophication is the correct term. seaweed is algae .
Is the seaweed light green almost transparent?

In reply to gd303uk:
seaweed is algae .

Of course it is. That's what you get for being an ecologist that gets seasick on a narrowboat

In reply to gd303uk:



Yes, you could describe it like that. Slippery is the best word, though.

No solutions yet for getting rid of it?

In reply to Andy2:

It could be Ulva lactuca, if it is? it is edible . Tastes sweet if I remember .
http://www.eattheweeds.com/ulva-sea-soup-salad-2/
http://www.seaweed.ie/algae/ulva.php

In reply to toad:

Hehe,
I studied ecology / biology also, I was a terrible student , spent more time climbing and recovering from nights/weekends out than anything else.