Kelp with cushion fauna and/or foliose red seaweeds
Description (English)
Rocky habitats in the infralittoral zone subject to exposed to extremely exposed wave action or strong tidal streams. Typically the rock supports a community of kelp Laminaria hyperborea with foliose seaweeds and animals, the latter tending to become more prominent in areas of strongest water movement (A3.113, A3.115 and A3.1152). The depth to which the kelp extends varies according to water clarity, exceptionally (e.g. St Kilda) reaching 45 m. In some areas, there may be a band of dense foliose seaweeds (reds or browns) below the main kelp zone (A3.116). The sublitttoral fringe is characterised by dabberlocks Alaria esculenta (A3.111). In very strong wave action the sublittoral fringe A. esculenta zone extends to 5 to 10 m depth, whilst at Rockall A. esculenta replaces L. hyperborea as the dominant kelp in the infralittoral zone (A3.112).
Situation: Very exposed rocky coasts, from low water to depths up to 45m.
Temporal variation: Winter storms may remove patches of kelp, and fast-growing annuals may form a temporary forest (A3.122).
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code A3.11 |
|---|---|
| Bern Convention | Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A3) |
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Algae
Laminaria hyperborea
| Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
|---|---|---|
| Laminaria hyperborea | Algae |
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 | IR.HIR.KFaR | Kelp with cushion fauna and/or foliose red seaweeds | source |
| CORINE Land Cover | 5.2.3. | Sea and ocean | n/a |
| Ramsar Wetland Types | B | Subtidal aquatic beds | wider |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A3.11 | Kelp with cushion fauna and/or foliose red seaweeds | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.11 | Kelp with cushion fauna, foliose red seaweeds or coralline crusts (high energy infralittoral rock) | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.11 | Kelp with cushion fauna, foliose red seaweeds or coralline crusts (exposed rock) | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3.11 | Kelp with cushion fauna, foliose red seaweeds or coralline crusts (exposed rock) | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | A3.11 | Kelp with cushion fauna, foliose red seaweeds or coralline crusts (exposed rock) | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | A3.11 | Kelp beds with faunal cushion and red seaweeds | same |
| MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | EIR.KFaR | Kelp with cushion fauna, foliose red seaweeds or coralline crusts (exposed rock) | same |
| MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland) | EIR.KFa | narrower |
