Serpula vermicularis – Biogenic reefs in Galway

Biogenic reefs are hard material created by living things that build up to form structures. While typically we think of things like the Great Barrier reef, tropical waters and corals Ireland is home to its own miniature version in the form of Serpula vermicularis reefs. Serpula are small worms that grow calcareous tubes on hard substrares, they are the white tubes you find growing on rocks, harbour walls or boat hulls. However at a tiny number of sites the larvae settle on existing tubes so that the tubes eventually grow to form large reefs which can be up to 2m in height. 3 of those sites are in Galway.

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