Barren or amphipod-dominated mobile sand shores
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English name
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Barren or amphipod-dominated mobile sand shores
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EUNIS habitat type code
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A2.22
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Level
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4
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Edition
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 2012 - a revision of the habitat classification descriptions.
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Description ( English )
Shores consisting of clean mobile sands (coarse, medium and some fine-grained), with little very fine sand, and no mud present. Shells and stones may occasionally be present on the surface. The sand may be duned or rippled as a result of wave action or tidal currents. The sands are non-cohesive, with low water retention, and thus subject to drying out between tides, especially on the upper shore and where the shore profile is steep. Most of these shores support a limited range of species, ranging from barren, highly mobile sands to more stable clean sands supporting communities of isopods, amphipods and a limited range of polychaetes. Species which can characterise mobile sand communities include [Scolelepis squamata], [Pontocrates arenarius], [Bathyporeia pelagica], [B. pilosa], [Haustorius arenarius] and [Eurydice pulchra].
Situation: Mobile sand shores are typically situated along open stretches of coastline, with a relatively high degree of wave exposure. Bands of gravel and shingle may be present on the upper shore of exposed beaches. Where the wave exposure is less, and the shore profile more shallow, mobile sand communities may also be present on the upper part of the shore, with more stable fine sand communities present lower down. A strandline of talitrid amphipods (A2.211) typically develops at the top of the shore where decaying seaweed accumulates.
Temporal variation: Mobile sand shores may show significant seasonal changes, with sediment accretion during calm summer periods and beach erosion during more stormy winter months. There may be a change in sediment particle size structure, with finer sediment grains washed out during winter months, leaving behind coarser sediments.
Source
Connor, D.W., Allen, J.H., Golding, N., Howell, K.L., Lieberknecht, L.M., Northen, K.O. & Reker, J.B. [edited ETC/BD] (2004)
External links
Relationships with other classifications
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Classification
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Code
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Title
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Relation type
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410
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A2.22
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Barren or amphipod-dominated mobile sand shores
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same
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308
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A2.242
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Barren coarse sand shores
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narrower
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308
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A2.243
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Burrowing amphipods and [Eurydice pulchra] in well-drained clean sand shores
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narrower
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308
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A2.121
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Oligochaetes in reduced or low salinity gravel or coarse sand shores
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narrower
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308
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A2.24
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Sand shores
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wider
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202
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A2.242
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Barren coarse sand shores
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narrower
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202
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A2.243
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Burrowing amphipods and [Eurydice pulchra] in well-drained clean sand shores
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narrower
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202
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A2.121
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Oligochaetes in reduced or low salinity gravel or coarse sand shores
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narrower
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910
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A2.212
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Barren coarse sand shores
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narrower
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910
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A2.213
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Burrowing amphipods and [Eurydice pulchra] in well-drained clean sand shores
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narrower
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910
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A2.121
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Oligochaetes in reduced or low salinity gravel or coarse sand shores
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narrower
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811
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A2.12
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Clean sandy shores with communities dominated by amphipods or polychaetes
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same
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712
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A2.12
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Clean sandy shores with communities dominated by amphipods or polychaetes
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same
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Palaearctic Habitat Classification 200112
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16.11
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Unvegetated sand beaches
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wider
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Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905
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16.11
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Part of Unvegetated sand beaches
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not defined
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Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997
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16.11
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Part of Unvegetated sand beaches
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not defined
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Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996
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16.11
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not defined
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Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993
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16.11
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not defined
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CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991
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16.11
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not defined
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CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989
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16.11
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not defined
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CORINE Land Cover
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5.2.2.
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Estuaries
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n/a
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CORINE Land Cover
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4.2.3.
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Intertidal flats
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n/a
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Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405
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LS.LSa.MoSa
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Barren or amphipod-dominated mobile sand shores
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source
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MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)
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LGS.S.BarSnd
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Barren coarse sand shores
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narrower
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MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)
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LGS.S.AEur
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Burrowing amphipods and [Eurydice pulchra] in well-drained clean sand shores
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narrower
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MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)
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LGS.Est.Ol
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Oligochaetes in reduced or low salinity gravel or coarse sand shores
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narrower
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MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland)
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LGS.Snd
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narrower
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A
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Marine habitats
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Ancestor
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A2
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Littoral sediment
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Ancestor
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A2.2
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Littoral sand and muddy sand
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Parent
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