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Amara quenseli Atheta graminicola Both species Marine life 200 m Fig. 2.15. The diverse, forb-rich grassland vegetation in the gull colony is favoured by some, but not all, species of invertebrates. The staphilinid beetle Atheta graminicola is found only within the gull colony and by the helicopter platform, where similar vegetation occurs. The carabid beetle Amara quenseli, in sharp contrast, prefers a barren, sandy substrate, as occurs in the open gravel flat- and shore communities. Benthos Monitoring of the marine benthos around Surtsey began in 1964. About 80 species of macroalgae and 180 benthic animal species have been identified in the rocky littoral and hard-bottom sublittoral zones around Surtsey (Appendices 8 and 9a and b). The number of benthic species found along the coast of neighbouring islands in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago is considerably higher. With respect to marine vegetation, the most striking difference in Surtsey is its complete lack of the large fucoids which dominate littoral vegetation by the other islands. In Surtsey's sublittoral zone, there is also a lack of crustose red algae, whereas red crusts, especially crustose corallines, are prominent among vegetation along the coast of other Vestmannaeyjar islands. The instability of the Surtseyan substrate is probably 2 DESCRIPTION what prevents perennial fucoids from establishing viable populations in Surtsey's littoral zone. Certainly there is no lack of propagules, because each year fertile fragments of fucoids are found as drift on Surtsey. For the sublittoral crustose species, erosion and sand scouring could pose potential problems; additionally, many of the crustose species have heavy spores that currents are unlikely to sweep far away. For comparison, it might be pointed out that crustose red algae are already well established on the lava formed in 1973 at Heimaey, 10 years after the Surtsey eruption. This lava is, however, adjacent to established macroalgal vegetation that was unaffected by the eruption (Karl Gunnarsson 2000). Littoral zone Along the west, south and east coast of Surtsey, the littoral zone substrate is composed of bedrock and large boulders. In the northern area, the substrate consists mostly of sand or boulders embedded in sand. The entire shoreline has been constantly eroded by heavy breakers, especially during severe southerly storms. A buoy monitoring waves just south of Surtsey has registered wave heights of some 16 m during winter storms (see above). The southwestern shore has been most intensely affected, in some years receding over 50 m. Although the most stable shore borders the eastern side of Surtsey, frequent scouring takes place even there, with waves and currents transporting sand northwards and depositing it on the northern spit. Rocks all around Surtsey display algal growth. Even the boulders embedded in sand on the northern spit support fast-growing algae during calm summer periods, and various annual algae species have colonised littoral cliffs on the eastern, southern and western shores. In the beginning, there were very few species and cover was scanty, but in recent years a number of species are found in the littoral zone and have achieved a total cover of over 60%. The most common species are diatoms in mucilage tubes (Schizonema type) and the green filamentous algae Ulothrix flacca, which together comprise over 80% of vegetation cover in the littoral zone. In the island's southern and western sections, erosion has formed steep cliffs, rendering the shore inaccessible. Since 1970, the only part of 39
SURTSEY – NOMINATION FOR THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST The vegetation in the Surtsey littoral zone is characterised by two distinct algal communities (see Fig. 2.16). (Photo: Karl Gunnarsson 1991). the shoreline which has a hard substrate and has also been accessible and therefore possible to examine is the eastern shore. Two algal belts are distinguishable in the littoral zone (Fig. 2.16): an upper belt, green in colour and dominated by the green algae Ulothrix flacca, Enteromorpha intestinalis and Urospora penicilliformis; and a lower belt dominated by brown-coloured species, among which Petalonia fascia, Petalonia zosterifolia, Scytosiphon lomentarius, Ectocarpus siliculosus and Porphyra umbilicalis (a brown-coloured red algae) are most common. At the lowest extreme of the littoral zone, the brown kelp species Alaria esculenta encroaches from the sublittoral zone, covering most of the rocks (Sigurður Jónsson et al. 1987). The littoral fauna is poor, although small crustaceans have been found amongst the filamentous algae, including the harpacticoid Harpacticus arcticus. The sessile animal most often observed in Surtsey's littoral zone is the acorn barnacle Semibalanus balanoides, which colonises the 40 χ 2 [%] 100 80 60 40 20 0 1 8 11 9 10 12 2 3 6 7 5 4 No. of sample Fig. 2.16. Cluster analysis of samples from varying depths in the Surtsey littoral zone. Two communities can be distinguished: an upper one dominated by green algae and a lower one dominated by diatoms and brown algae. The numbers refer to sampling depths. Sample 1 is taken at low water mark at spring tide; sample 12 is taken at the highest water level. lower part of the littoral zone each spring, only to disappear the following winter. In summer tiny young mussels Mytilus edulis are also found in the littoral zone (Erlingur Hauksson 2000). In general, most plant species that have been identified in the littoral zone are annual species. All of the perennial species found were still in their first year and without exception disappeared again before the following spring. None of the large perennial fucoids dominating the mainland coast and rocky shores elsewhere in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago were found to be growing in Surtsey until 1997, when a small Fucus spiralis plant from earlier the same summer was noted. No fucoid plants could be found upon examining the same site a year later (Sigurður Jónsson and Karl Gunnarsson 2000). Sublittoral zone The substrate in the sublittoral zone west, south and east of the island is made up of bedrock and boulders, often with sand in-between. In the
Page 1 and 2: Ministry of Education, Science and
Page 3 and 4: • O F ICELANDIC INSTITUTE N AT U
Page 5 and 6: This nomination has been commission
Page 8 and 9: Contents 1 Identification of the pr
Page 10 and 11: 22’’N 5’’W Surtsey Nature R
Page 12 and 13: 2 Description 2.a Description of pr
Page 14 and 15: Vestmannaeyjar archipelago Surtey i
Page 16 and 17: and of the islands of Bjarnarey and
Page 18 and 19: 150 m 100 m 50 m 0 m - 50 m - 100 m
Page 20 and 21: Typical ropy lava surface at the so
Page 22 and 23: Geological definitions Accretionary
Page 24 and 25: (Friedman and Williams 1970). Altho
Page 26 and 27: sorting than the original tephra, w
Page 28 and 29: Fig. 2.9. Wind direction frequency
Page 30 and 31: older and more eroded. It is likely
Page 32 and 33: The lichen Xanthoria parietina and
Page 34 and 35: study plots revealed four main vege
Page 36 and 37: carefully recording any observation
Page 38 and 39: carried out. In the early years of
Page 42 and 43: 1 2 3 4 6 - 8 northern sublittoral
Page 44 and 45: Marine mammals Marine mammals have
Page 46 and 47: 2.b History and development Geologi
Page 48 and 49: Lava effusion on Surtsey, April 21,
Page 50 and 51: 0 m -100 m -200 m -300 m 6/’65 (D
Page 52 and 53: 17 February 1964: hydromagmatic eru
Page 54 and 55: The hydrothermal area at the surfac
Page 56 and 57: Area [km 2 ] 3 2 1 0 1960 1970 1980
Page 58 and 59: History of life Influx of terrestri
Page 60 and 61: Number of vascular plant species 60
Page 62 and 63: upon later attempts after growing c
Page 64 and 65: colony, a community composed mainly
Page 66 and 67: Erling Ólafsson 1982; Gjelstrup 20
Page 68 and 69: Number of species 60 50 40 30 20 10
Page 70 and 71: 13 Justification for inscription 3.
Page 72 and 73: Surtsey's emergence has provided a
Page 74 and 75: forms and biological communities. T
Page 76 and 77: Italians landed and named it Ferdin
Page 78 and 79: These include, to name but a few: s
Page 80 and 81: The tephra cones have been converte
Page 82 and 83: 4 State of conservation and factors
Page 84 and 85: Fig. 4.2. Mean yearly catches of fi
Page 86 and 87: (iii) Natural disasters and prepari
Page 88 and 89: 15 5.a Ownership Protection and man
Page 90 and 91:
“A room with a view.” (Photo fr
Page 92 and 93:
The Surtsey Research Society has co
Page 94 and 95:
6 Monitoring 6.a Key indicators for
Page 96 and 97:
71Documentation 7.a Supplementary m
Page 98 and 99:
except by permission of the Environ
Page 100 and 101:
Gjelstrup, P. 2000. Soil mites and
Page 102 and 103:
8 8.a Preparer Contact information
Page 104 and 105:
9 Signature on behalf of the State
Page 106 and 107:
List of figures Lists of figures, t
Page 108 and 109:
Appendices Appendix 1a. Declaration
Page 110 and 111:
APPENDICES Species status in 2005 A
Page 112 and 113:
Appendix 4. Lichens species recorde
Page 114 and 115:
Appendix 6. Bird species seen on or
Page 116 and 117:
Coccinellidae Coccinella undecimpun
Page 118 and 119:
Neomolgus littoralis (Linnaeus) Any
Page 120 and 121:
APPENDICES Appendix 9a. Marine zoob
Page 122 and 123:
Crustacea/Amphipoda amphipod Hippom
Page 124:
effects on natural features, landsc
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