Sabellaria spinulosa, didemnid and small ascidians on tide-swept moderately wave-exposed circalittoral rock
Description (English)
This variant is typically found on tide-swept, moderately wave-exposed circalittoral bedrock, boulders and cobbles subject to slight sand-scour. It occurs predominantly in the lower circalittoral. This variant normally appears as a bedrock/boulder outcrop or reef with a dense crust of the polychaete Sabellaria spinulosa and a dense turf of didemnid ascidians and scour-tolerant bryozoans such as Flustra foliacea, Pentapora foliacea and Cellaria species. There may be discreet clumps of Alcyonium digitatum and sparse sponges such as Tethya aurantium and Phorbas fictitius. Patchy occurrences of the small ascidians Polycarpa scuba, Polycarpa pomaria and Distomus variolosus may be present on the tops of rocks and boulders whilst in crevices between, the anemone Urticina felina may be found. Species such as Asterias rubens, Crossaster papposus, the serpulid worm Salmacina dysteri and the anemone Sagartia elegans are occasionally seen on the rock surface. This variant has been recorded from the Lleyn Peninsula, the Skerries and around Pembrokeshire in Wales.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code A4.2212 |
---|---|
Bern Convention | Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A4) |
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
---|---|---|
Alcyonium digitatum | Invertebrates | |
Asterias rubens | Invertebrates | |
Distomus variolosus | Invertebrates | |
Flustra foliacea | Invertebrates | |
Sabellaria spinulosa | Invertebrates | |
Sagartia elegans | Invertebrates | |
Salmacina dysteri | Invertebrates | |
Tethya aurantium | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 | CR.MCR.CSab.Sspi.As | <I>Sabellaria spinulosa</I>, didemnids and other small ascidians on tide-swept moderately wave-exposed circalittoral rock | source |
CORINE Land Cover | 5.2.3. | Sea and ocean | n/a |
Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitats (UK) | 36 | Sabellaria spinulosa reefs | wider |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A4.2212 | Sabellaria spinulosa, didemnid and small ascidians on tide-swept moderately wave-exposed circalittoral rock | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.6721 | Sabellaria spinulosa, didemnid and small ascidians on tide-swept moderately wave-exposed circalittoral rock | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.6721 | Dense ascidians, bryozoans and hydroids on a crust of Sabellaria spinulosa on tide-swept circalittoral rock | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3.6721 | Dense ascidians, bryozoans and hydroids on a crust of Sabellaria spinulosa on tide-swept circalittoral rock | same |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | MCR.As.MolPol.Sab | Dense ascidians, bryozoans and hydroids on a crust of Sabellaria spinulosa on tide-swept circalittoral rock | same |