EUNIS habitat classification 2012 amended 2019 > A - Marine habitats > A3 - Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata

Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata

English name: Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata

Description (English)

Infralittoral rock includes habitats of bedrock, boulders and cobbles which occur in the shallow subtidal zone and typically support seaweed communities. The upper limit is marked by the top of the kelp zone whilst the lower limit is marked by the lower limit of kelp growth or the lower limit of dense seaweed growth. Infralittoral rock typically has an upper zone of dense kelp (forest) and a lower zone of sparse kelp (park), both with an understorey of erect seaweeds. In exposed conditions the kelp is Laminaria hyperborea whilst in more sheltered habitats it is usually Laminaria saccharina; other kelp species may dominate under certain conditions. On the extreme lower shore and in the very shallow subtidal (sublittoral fringe) there is usually a narrow band of dabberlocks Alaria esculenta (exposed coasts) or the kelps Laminaria digitata (moderately exposed) or L. saccharina (very sheltered). Areas of mixed ground, lacking stable rock, may lack kelps but support seaweed communities. In estuaries and other turbid-water areas the shallow subtidal may be dominated by animal communities, with only poorly developed seaweed communities.

Source:
EUNIS habitat classification
Interpretation Manual of the habitats targeted by Resolution No. 4

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code A3
Bern Convention Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Algae Laminaria hyperborea
Algae Laminaria saccharina
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Laminaria hyperborea Algae
Laminaria saccharina Algae

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112 11.24 Sublittoral rocky seabeds and kelp forests overlap
CORINE Land Cover 5.2.3. Sea and ocean n/a
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 IR Infralittoral rock (and other hard substrata) same
Barcelona Convention 199812 III.6. (INFRALITTORAL) HARD BEDS AND ROCKS same
Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitats (UK) 35 Littoral and sublittoral chalk overlap
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 A3 Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A3 Sublittoral rock and other hard substrata wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 A3 Sublittoral rock and other hard substrata wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 A3 Sublittoral rock and other hard substrata wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 A3 Sublittoral rock and other hard substrata wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 X15 Sublittoral rock (to 200m depth) same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 11.24 Sublittoral rocky seabeds and kelp forests narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 11.25 Sublittoral organogenic concretions narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 11.24 Sublittoral rocky seabeds and kelp forests narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 11.25   narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 11.24   narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 11.24   narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 11.25   narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 11.25   narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 11.24   narrower
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