Wicklow Reef : Reef species Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wicklow Reef

Shallow subtidal reef in the Irish Sea

52°58′25″N 5°57′25″W / 52.9736°N 5.95683°W / 52.9736; -5.95683Area3,790 acres (15.3 km²)DesignationSpecial Area of ConservationGoverning bodyNational Parks and Wildlife Service

The Wicklow Reef (Irish: Sceir Cill Mhantáin) is a shallow subtidal reef in the Irish Sea, located off the coast of County Wicklow, Ireland, approximately 2.88 kilometres (1.79 mi) northeast of Wicklow Head. The reefs are constructed by the honeycomb worm (Sabellaria alveolata) and are located at a depth of 12 to 30 metres (39 to 98 ft).^[1]

Prior to the discovery of the Wicklow Reef in 1997, Sabellaria alveolata reefs were only known to occur in inter-tidal zones along the coasts of Britain and Ireland. Sub-tidal reefs are exceptionally rare in the region, being typically found in the Mediterranean. The Wicklow Reef is the first and only known example of a sub-tidal Sabellaria alveolata reef off the coast of Britain and Ireland.^[2]

The reef is home to a number of species of crab, starfish, sea-squirts, brittlestars, as well as molluscs and bryozoans. Several species of worm such as Phaeostachys spinifera, Eulalia ornata and Unciola crenatipalma are very uncommon in Irish waters, and the Wicklow Reef is therefore considered a priority habitat. The reef is an EU-designated Special Area of Conservation.^[3]

Reef species

Scientific Name	Image
Sabellaria alveolata
Spirobranchus triqueter
Urticina felina
Tubularia indivisa
Ophiothrix fragilis
Sertularia argentea
Clavelina lepadiformis
Hydrallmania falcata

References

^ "Wicklow Reef SAC - Site Synopsis" (PDF). National Parks and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
^ "Wicklow Reef SAC - Conservation objectives supporting document" (PDF). National Parks and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
^ "Factsheet - Wicklow Reef SAC". European Environment Agency. Retrieved 14 May 2022.

Geography of County Wicklow

Protected Areas

Special Areas of Conservation	Ballyman Glen Bray Head Buckroney-Brittas Dunes and Fen Carriggower Bog Vale of Clara Deputy's Pass Glen of the Downs Holdenstown Bog Knocksink Wood Magherabeg Dunes The Murrough Wetlands Slaney River Valley Wicklow Mountains Wicklow Reef
Special Protection Areas	Poulaphouca Reservoir The Murrough Wetlands Wicklow Head Wicklow Mountains
Nature Reserves	Deputy's Pass Glen of the Downs Glendalough Glenealo Valley Knocksink Wood Vale of Clara
National Parks	Wicklow Mountains National Park

Landforms

Beaches	Arklow Beach (North and South) Bray Beach Brittas Bay Clogga Beach The Cove Ennereilly Beach Glen Beach Greystones Beach (North and South) Kilcoole Beach Leamore Strand Magheramore Beach Newcastle Beach Porter's Rock Beach Sallymount Bay Beach Silver Strand Beach Travelahawk Beach
Mountains and hills	Arklow Hill Barnacullian Benleagh Bray Head Camaderry Camenabologue Carrick Mountain Carrigvore Church Mountain Cloghernagh Conavalla Corrigasleggaun Croaghanmoira Croghan Mountain Djouce Duff Hill Gravale Great Sugar Loaf Keadeen Mountain Kippure Little Sugar Loaf Lobawn Lugduff Luggala Lugnaquilla Maulin Moanbane Mullacor Mullaghcleevaun Prince William's Seat Scarr Seefingan Silsean Slievemaan Sugarloaf Table Mountain Tonduff Tonelagee Turlough Hill War Hill
Valleys and passes	Deputy's Pass Glen of Imaal Glen of the Downs Glencree Glendalough Glendasan Glenealo Glenmacnass Glenmalure The Sally Gap Vale of Clara The Wicklow Gap
Forests & gardens	Avondale Forest Killruddery Knocksink Wood Mount Usher Gardens National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh Powerscourt Estate Russborough Estate Tomnafinnoge Woods Victor's Way
Lakes	Arts Lough Broad Lough Glendalough Upper Lake Glendalough Lower Lake Lough Dan Lough Tay Lough Ouler Lough Bray (Upper and Lower) Lough Nahanagan Poulaphouca Reservoir Lough Firrib Cleevaun Lough Three Lakes Kelly's Lough Vartry Reservoir
Rivers	River Aughrim River Avoca River Avonbeg Avonmore River River Dargle River Derreen River Derry River Dodder Glencullen River River Greese River Liffey River Slaney River Vartry
Waterfalls	Ballinafunshogue Waterfall Carrawaystick Waterfall Coolalingo Waterfall Devils Glen Waterfall Fraughan Glen Waterfall Glenmacnass Waterfall Jackson Falls Poulanass Waterfall Powerscourt Waterfall
Hiking Trails	Saint Kevin's Way Wicklow Way Djouce Mountain Walk The Spinc Trail Wicklow Round