Ruppia maritima in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sand
Description (English)
In sheltered brackish muddy sand and mud, beds of Ruppia maritima and more rarely Ruppia spiralis may occur. These beds may be populated by fish such as Gasterosteus aculeatus which is less common on filamentous algal-dominated sediments. Seaweeds such as Chaetomorpha spp., Enteromorpha spp., Cladophora spp., and Chorda filum are also often present in addition to occasional fucoids. In some cases the stoneworts Lamprothamnium papulosum and Chara aspera occur. Infaunal and epifaunal species may include mysid crustacea, the polychaete Arenicola marina, the gastropod Hydrobia ulvae, the amphipod Corophium volutator and oligochaetes such as Heterochaeta costata. In some areas Zostera marina may also be interspersed with the Ruppia beds.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code A5.5343 |
|---|---|
| Bern Convention | Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A5) |
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Algae
Lamprothamnium papulosum
Fishes
Gasterosteus aculeatus
Flowering Plants
Ruppia maritima
Flowering Plants
Zostera marina
Invertebrates
Arenicola marina
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Lamprothamnium papulosum | Algae | |
| Gasterosteus aculeatus | Fishes | |
| Ruppia maritima | Flowering Plants | |
| Zostera marina | Flowering Plants | |
| Arenicola marina | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 | SS.SMp.SSgr.Rup | <I>Ruppia maritima</I> in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy 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 | A5.5343 | Ruppia maritima in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sand | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A4.543 | Ruppia maritima in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sand | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A4.543 | Ruppia maritima in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sand | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A4.543 | Ruppia maritima in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sand | same |
| MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | IMS.Sgr.Rup | Ruppia maritima in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sand | same |
