EUNIS habitat classification 2012 amended 2019 > A - Marine habitats > A1 - Littoral rock and other hard substrata > A1.3 - Low energy littoral rock

Low energy littoral rock

English name: Low energy littoral rock

Description (English)

Sheltered to extremely sheltered rocky shores with very weak to weak tidal streams are typically characterised by a dense cover of fucoid seaweeds which form distinct zones (the wrack Pelvetia canaliculata on the upper shore through to the wrack Fucus serratus on the lower shore). Where salinity is reduced (such as at the head of a sea loch or where streams run across the shore) Fucus ceranoides may occur. Fucoids also occur on less stable, mixed substrata (cobbles and pebbles on sediment) although in lower abundance and with fewer associated epifaunal species; beds of mussels Mytilus edulis are also common. In summer months, dense blankets of ephemeral green and red seaweeds can dominate these mixed shores. Two biological subtypes have been described: Dense blankets of fucoid seaweeds dominating sheltered, fully marine littoral rocky shores (A1.31) and fucoids dominating variable salinity rocky shores (A1.32).

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code A1.3
Relation to	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Legal text	Annex	Name in legal text	Code in legal text	Habitat type relationship	More information
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Estuaries	1130	Overlap	http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Coastal lagoons	1150	Overlap
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Large shallow inlets and bays	1160	Overlap
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Reefs	1170	Overlap

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Algae Fucus ceranoides

Algae Fucus serratus

Invertebrates Mytilus edulis

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Fucus ceranoides		Algae
Fucus serratus		Algae
Mytilus edulis		Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
CORINE Land Cover	4.2.3.	Intertidal flats	n/a
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405	LR.LLR	Low energy littoral rock	same

For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A1.3	Low energy littoral rock	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A1.3	Low energy littoral rock	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A1.3	Littoral rock sheltered from wave action	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A1.3	Littoral rock sheltered from wave action	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	A1.3	Littoral rock sheltered from wave action	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	A1.4	Sheltered eulittoral rock	same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	SLR	Sheltered littoral rock (fucoid shores)	same
MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland)	SLR		same

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