Mytilus edulis, Fucus serratus and red seaweeds on moderately exposed lower eulittoral rock

Description (English)

Lower eulittoral moderately exposed bedrock covered by a dense community of large individuals of the mussel Mytilus edulis, often with a scarce covering of the wrack Fucus serratus and red seaweeds. The red seaweeds may include Palmaria palmata, Mastocarpus stellatus, Ceramium spp., Audouinella spp. and Chondrus crispus. Ephemeral green seaweeds such as Enteromorpha intestinalis and Ulva lactuca commonly occur on the shells of the mussels. The barnacle Semibalanus balanoides is common on both the mussel valves and on patches of bare rock, where the limpet Patella vulgata is also found, often at high abundance. The whelk Nucella lapillus and the winkle Littorina littorea occur within the mussel bed, as well as the polychaete Pomatoceros triqueter and the crab Carcinus maenas. The anemone Actinia equina is present in cracks and crevices. These moist areas can be overgrown by coralline crusts.
Situation: Above this biotope on sand influenced shores is a M. edulis and F. vesiculosus dominated biotope (unit A1.221). In the sublittoral fringe below A1.222 is a biotope dominated by the kelp Laminaria digitata (A3.2111).

Source: EUNIS habitat classification