Littoral [Sabellaria] reefs
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English name
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Littoral honeycomb worm reefs
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EUNIS habitat type code
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A2.71
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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 )
The sedentary polychaete [Sabellaria alveolata] (honeycomb worm) builds tubes from sand and shell. On exposed shores, where there is a plentiful supply of sediment, [S. alveolata] can form honeycomb reefs on boulders and low-lying bedrock on the mid to lower shore. These [S. alveolata] reefs are quite distinct from the mosaic of seaweeds and barnacles or red seaweeds (A1.2) generally associated with moderately exposed rocky shores though many of the same species are present. These include the anemone [Actinia equina], the barnacles [Semibalanus balanoides] and [Elminius modestus], the limpet [Patella vulgata], the top shell [Gibbula cineraria] and the winkle [Littorina littorea]. The whelk [Nucella lappilus] and the mussel [Mytilus edulis] is also present on the boulders whereas the polychaete [Lanice conchilega] is restricted to the associated sediment areas. Scour resistent red seaweeds including [Palmaria palmata, Corallina ifficinalis, Mastocarpus stellatus, Chondrus crispus, Ceramium nodulosum, Osmundea pinnatifida, Polysiphonia] spp. and coralline crusts can also be present where suitable substrata exsist. Brown and green seaweeds also present include [Fucus serratus, Fucus vesioculosus, Cladostephus spongiosus, Enteromorpha intestinalis] and [Ulva lactuca].
Situation: Above A2.71 are biotopes dominated either by ephemeral seaweeds, such as [Enteromorpha] spp. and [Porphyra] spp. or the perennial wrack [Fucus vesiculosus] on mixed substrata (A1.213; A1.3132; A2.821; A1.452). Rockpool biotopes dominated by the red seaweed [Corallina officinalis] (A1.411), by wracks such as [Fucus] spp. or by kelp such as [Laminaria] spp. (A1.412) can usually be found above this biotope. Beneath this biotope is a community consisting of mixed scour-tolerant like the kelp [Laminaria digitata] and opportunistic foliose red seaweeds such as [Polyides rotundus] and [Ahnfeltia plicata] (A3.2111; A3.125; A3.127).
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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A2.71
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Littoral [Sabellaria] reefs
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same
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308
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A1.26
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Littoral [Sabellaria] honeycomb worm reefs
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same
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202
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A1.26
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[Sabellaria] reefs on littoral rock
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same
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910
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A1.25
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[Sabellaria] reefs on littoral rock
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same
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811
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A1.25
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Littoral [Sabellaria] reefs
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same
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712
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A1.35
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Honeycomb worm [Sabellaria alveolata] reefs
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same
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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.LBR.Sab
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Littoral Sabellaria honeycomb worm reefs
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source
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MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)
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MLR.Sab
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Littoral [Sabellaria] (honeycomb worm) reefs
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same
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MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland)
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MLR.Sab
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same
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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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A2.7
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Littoral biogenic reefs
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Parent
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