Samples from Islay
Here are pictures of some of the locations sampled:
Algal samples taken: 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Loch
Allan is on the Dunlossit estate near Ballygrant, and is well-used
for angling. pH 8.0, conductivity 312µS in July 2006. |
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In early July, 2002 the loch had a bloom of Anabaena which was breaking down, releasing an opalescent turquoise pigment. |
Ardnave loch in July 2003; another Anabaena bloom. pH on 22/7/03 was 7.1 |
In July 2005 there was a heavy bloom of metaphyton: |
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Loch Ballygrant |
July 2006. |
Loch Connailbhe, an upland loch sampled in 2000 |
22/7/03 pH was 6.2 July 2004 pH was 6.2 5/7/05 pH was 6.2, conductivity 173µS. |
Loch Dhomnuill is one of several lochs which lie in a depression in the flat peatland area between Bowmore and Port Ellen. pH in July 2005 was 7.1, |
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Loch Fada lies in high ground in the centre of the island, where limestone intrudes along part of the shoreline. pH on 26/7/03 was 7.7 |
Loch Gearach is the water supply source for the Rhinns of Islay. |
Visited July 2006: |
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Loch Glenastle (Upper) is in rough grazing land on the Oa peninsula, and flows into lower Loch Glenastle, beyond. The geology of the catchment is dominated by phyllite. |
Loch
Glenastle (Lower) sampled July 2005. pH 7.1, conductivity 110µS. |
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Loch Gorm is the largest area of freshwater on Islay. It lies in a peaty depression in phyllite rocks and is famously visited by thousands of migrant geese in winter. |
This sample was taken in 2003. The hollow gelatinous balls contained Euglena - like cells. |
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Loch Kinnabus is in a limestone-dominated catchment on the Oa peninsula, in improved grazing land. |
Sampling was carried out in the shallow southwestern
end near the outflow, where dense growths of Cladophora were evident
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Lily loch near Ballygrant is clearly well-named. |
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Loch Ruime lies towards the north end of Islay behind a bank of marine gravels, a former beach, in an otherwise peat-dominated catchment. |
This picture of the bank shows the deep deposits of peat overlying the sea-rounded gravels of a former (ice-age) beach. |
Loch Tallant is a shallow loch in a nutrient-poor peaty basin: marginal vegetation is gradually encroaching on the open water and the loch is now only a remnant of the original. Visited in 2000. |
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Loch Uigedail lies in the eastern part of Islay and is the source of water for the Ardbeg distillery. |
Visited in 2003; its altitude is approx. 250m; |
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John Kinross