Dense Lanice conchilega and other polychaetes in tide-swept infralittoral sand and mixed gravelly sand
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code A5.137 |
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Bern Convention | Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A5) |
Description (English)
Dense beds of Lanice conchilega occur in coarse to medium fine gravelly sand in the shallow sublittoral, where there are strong tidal streams or wave action. Several other species of polychaete also occur as infauna e.g. Spiophanes bombyx, Scoloplos armiger, Chaetozone setosa and Magelona mirabilis. Lanice beds are found in a wide range of habitats including muddier mixed sediment. The dense Lanice biotope (A5.137) on certain lower shores may be a littoral extension of the current biotope. The presence of L. conchilega in high numbersmay, over time, stabilise the sediment to the extent where a more diverse community may develop (Wood, 1987). Possibly as a result of this, there is a high level of variation with regard the infauna found in A5.137. It is likely that a number of sub-biotopes may subsequently be identified for this biotope. Offshore from the Wash and the North Norfolk coast Lanice beds are often found intermixed with Sabellaria spinulosa beds in muddier mixed sediment, particularly in the channels between the shallow sandbanks, which are so prevalent in this area (IECS, 1995; NRA, 1995). It is possible that the presence of Lanice has stabilised the habitat sufficiently to allow the deposition of finer material, which has subsequently assisted the development of S. spinulosa. It may be more accurate to define A5.137 as an epibiotic biotope which overlays a variety of infaunal biotopes (e.g. A5.233 in finer sands and A5.261 or A5.242 in slightly muddier areas).
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
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Chaetozone setosa | Invertebrates | |
Lanice conchilega | Invertebrates | |
Magelona mirabilis | Invertebrates | |
Sabellaria spinulosa | Invertebrates | |
Scoloplos armiger | Invertebrates | |
Spiophanes bombyx | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 | SS.SCS.ICS.SLan | Dense <I>Lanice conchilega</I> and other polychaetes in tide-swept infralittoral sand and mixed gravelly sand | source |
CORINE Land Cover | 5.2.3. | Sea and ocean | n/a |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A5.127 | Dense Lanice conchilega and other polychaetes in tide-swept infralittoral sand and mixed gravelly sand | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A4.123 | Dense Lanice conchilega and other polychaetes in tide-swept infralittoral sand and mixed gravely sand | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A4.123 | Dense Lanice conchilega and other polychaetes in tide-swept shallow-water sand | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A4.133 | Dense Lanice conchilega and other polychaetes in tide-swept shallow-water sand | same |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | IGS.FaS.Lcon | Dense Lanice conchilega and other polychaetes in tide-swept infralittoral sand | same |