Tubificoides benedii and other oligochaetes in littoral mud
Description (English)
Extreme upper estuarine fine sandy mud, sometimes with a fine sand fraction, in very sheltered conditions and subject to reduced salinity. An anoxic layer is usually present within the upper 3 cm of the sediment. The infaunal community is extremely poor, consisting almost exclusively of oligochaetes, including Tubificoides benedii and, more rarely, Heterochaeta costata. The only polychaete species that may occur is Capitella capitata, which may be common. The sediment may form steep banks in upper parts of macro-tidal estuaries or along saltmarsh creeks. Vaucheria species may form a film on the sediment surface along such creeks, and juvenile shore crabs Carcinus maenas may be common. At the very upper end of estuaries, the oligochaetes Limnodrilus spp. and Tubifex tubifex may be found.
Situation: There are three oligochaete dominated upper estuarine mud biotopes. This unit is the most extreme upper estuarine biotope, occurring at the head of estuaries where there is no strong river flow and hence conditions are very sheltered, and there is a very strong freshwater influence. Further towards the mid estuary, this biotope may occur at the top of the shore, with A2.3223 further down. Unit A2.321 occurs furthest towards the mid estuary, or on the lower shore with A2.3223 and A2.323 higher up.
Temporal variation: Green algae such as Enteromorpha spp. may form mats on the surface of the mud during the summer months.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code A2.323 |
---|---|
Bern Convention | Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A2.3) |
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
---|---|---|
Carcinus maenas | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 | LS.LMu.UEst.Tben | <I>Tubificoides benedii</I> and other oligochaetes in littoral mud | source |
CORINE Land Cover | 4.2.3. | Intertidal flats | n/a |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A2.323 | Tubificoides benedii and other oligochaetes in littoral mud | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A2.373 | Hediste diversicolor and oligochaetes in low salinity mud shores | overlap |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A2.373 | Hediste diversicolor and oligochaetes in low salinity mud shores | overlap |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A2.323 | Hediste diversicolor and oligochaetes in low salinity mud shores | overlap |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | LMU.Mu.HedOl | Hediste diversicolor and oligochaetes in low salinity mud shores | overlap |