News/Reports

Hudson Rocks, ER #137

Posted March 17, 2006 | Categories : 137,Marine Reserves,Reports,Species List |

ORIGINAL PURPOSE

To protect seabird breeding habitat and intertidal and nearshore subtidal habitat typical of the Strait of Georgia Marine Ecosection

PHYSICAL:The reserve is almost entirely subtidal and protects approximately 48 ha of coastal waters and four semi-exposed rocky islets totalling two ha. The waters are influenced by high turbidity and seasonally stratified water temperature in summer. The islets are comprised primarily of undifferentiated mudstone and sandstone bedrock characteristic of the Nanaimo Group of the Late Cretaceous age. The shorelines of the islets gently slope to sea level.

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BIOLOGICAL:The reserve is an important breeding and feeding ground for

Double Crested Cormorant juvenile . Photo by Ryan Murphy

Other birds that use this area are loon, grebes, Bald Eagles, Harlequin Ducks, Mew Gulls, Common Murres and alcids. The rocks are also used as a haul out area for Harbour Seals, and the foreshore as a nursery area for salmon and herring. There is abundant shellfish habitat and neritic plankton communities. Harbour Porpoises use the marine protected area as well.

Significant Species

Double-crested Cormorant—  Blue Listed

The rocks in this reserve may be subject to habitat loss due to rising sea levels and increased storm activity. Changes in sea levels.

surface temperature may also impact the sea bird populations due to a loss in synchrony between the life cycles of the seabirds and their marine food sources. Such changes may result in reduced reproductive success in the seabird populations, or population relocation due to unsuitable habitat.

Cultural: Hudson Rocks area has known significance to the Snuneymuxw First Nations.


Flora

None Mentioned

Fauna

Cormorant, Double-crested (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Duck, Harlequin (Histrionicus histrionicus)
Eagle, Bald (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Guillemot, Pigeon (Cepphus columba)
Gull, Glaucous-winged (Larus glaucescens)
Gull, Mew (Larus canus)
Herring, Pacific (Clupea pallasii)
Loon (Gavia spp.)
Murre, Common (Uria aalge)
Oystercatcher, Black (Haematopus bachmani)
Porpoise, Harbour (Phocoean phocoena)
Salmon (Oncorhynhus spp.)
Seal, Harbour (Phoca vitulina)