Biology
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Sea anemones are largely sedentary, moving occasionally by creeping extremely slowly or by inflating slightly and allowing currents to move them. They feed by holding out their tentacles to catch passing food particles and transfering them to the mouth. Little is known of the habits of this species, other than it is a passive predator that captures its prey in its tentacles, lives in a burrow and is very wary. The only way one might see this elusive animal is by scooping up some sediment in a bucket, leaving it to stand for some time, and then carefully peering over the rim to catch the anemone unawares (5).
Ivell's sea anemone was first discovered by Dick Manuel in 1975 when he and his colleague Professor Richard Ivell were examining Widewater for anemones. Manuel named the anemone after Prof Ivell, who has since returned to look for the anemone and to encourage the protection of the Widewater Lagoon (4).
Conservation
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Inclusion in the UK's Biodiversity Action Plan scheme has resulted in the drafting of a management plan for Widewater Lagoon. The site has now been proposed as a priority Special Area of Conservation under the EC Habitats Directive. Plans to restore the site include the improvement of the water quality and quantity, and searches will continue for Ivell's sea anemone, with plans for translocation if it is ever rediscovered (3).
Description
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A simple animal, the sea anemone is made up of a column with a mouth, used to take in food and expel waste, and several tentacles. In Ivell's sea anemone, there are twelve transparent tentacles, nine in an outer ring lying flat on the substrate, and three in an inner ring, held vertically, or over the mouth. Each tentacle has a few stripes of cream colour across it (2).
Habitat
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Ivell's sea anemone was found in an isolated saline lagoon, where it sheltered on the bottom in long burrows in deep, soft mud (2).
Range
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Found only in the Widewater Lagoon in West Sussex, Ivell's sea anemone may no longer be extant, having not been found since 1983 despite detailed searches (2).
Status
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Ivell's sea anemone is classified as Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List 2004 (1) and is protected under Schedule 5 of the UK's Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (3).
Threats
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The habitat of Ivell's sea anemone is threatened by habitat degradation as a result of reduced seawater inflow from adjacent marshes. Pollution from nearby gardens following the run-off of pesticides and fertilisers has also caused reduced water quality (3).
Ivell's sea anemone
provided by wikipedia EN
Ivell's sea anemone (Edwardsia ivelli) is a species of sea anemone in the family Edwardsiidae.[3] It is endemic to a single location, Widewater Lagoon in West Sussex, England, where it was first discovered by Richard Ivell.[2] It has been listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN since 1996.[1]
Description
Ivell's sea anemone is a tiny, worm-like anemone up to 20 mm (0.79 in) long and 1.5 mm (0.059 in) diameter; the column is similar to other Edwardsia spp. There are twelve transparent tentacles, arranged in two cycles, nine tentacles in the outer cycle and three in the inner cycle. In life the tentacles of the outer cycle are held flat on the substrate, the three of the inner cycle more or less vertical, often curled over the mouth. Each tentacle has a few transverse bars of pale cream occasionally forming complete rings.
Habitat and distribution
Burrowing in soft mud in saline lagoons or sheltered creeks, it is a tiny species and easily overlooked unless deliberately sought.
It is endemic to England known from only one site, Widewater Lagoon in West Sussex, the type locality. Searches in recent years have failed to find any specimens and the species is considered extinct by some conservationists [4]
Similar species
Although the type of locality inhabited by this species is not often searched by divers, such places are well-worth investigating. This species and Nematostella vectensis are probably the only British Anthozoans which can be considered endangered species through habitat destruction and pollution.
Ivell's sea anemone was discovered by Professor Richard Ivell, hence the species' name.[2]
References
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Ivell's sea anemone: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Ivell's sea anemone (Edwardsia ivelli) is a species of sea anemone in the family Edwardsiidae. It is endemic to a single location, Widewater Lagoon in West Sussex, England, where it was first discovered by Richard Ivell. It has been listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN since 1996.
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Habitat
provided by World Register of Marine Species
brackish lagoon
van der Land, J. (ed). (2008). UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms (URMO).
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