Fucus vesiculosus on moderately exposed to sheltered mid eulittoral rock
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code A1.313 |
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Description (English)
Moderately exposed to very sheltered mid eulittoral bedrock and large boulders characterised by a dense canopy of the wrack Fucus vesiculosus (Abundant to Superabundant). Beneath the seaweed canopy the rock surface has a sparse covering of the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides and the limpet Patella vulgata. The mussel Mytilus edulis is confined to pits and crevices. A variety of winkles including Littorina littorea and Littorina saxatilis can be found grazing on the fucoid fronds. The whelk Nucella lapillus is found beneath the seaweed canopy. In areas of localised shelter the wrack Ascophyllum nodosum may occur, though never at high abundance. The crab Carcinus maenas may be present in pools or among the boulders. Two variants have been described: Bedrock and large boulders (unit A1.3131) and mixed substrata (unit A1.3132). Please notice that a F. vesioculosus biotope subject to variable salinity (unit A1.323) has been identified.
Situation: This biotope usually occurs between the wrack Fucus spiralis (A1.312) and the Fucus serratus (A1 315) zones; both of these fucoids may be present in this biotope, though never at high abundance (typically less than Frequent). In some sheltered areas F. vesiculosus forms a narrow zone above the A. nodosum zone (A1.314). Where freshwater runoff occurs on more gradually sloping shores F. vesiculosus may be replaced by the wrack Fucus ceranoides (A1.327).
Temporal variation: On some shores, particularly those which are moderately exposed to wave action, temporal fluctuations in the abundance of limpets, barnacles and fucoid seaweeds may occur. As a result, over a number of years, a single shore may cycle between the barnacle-P. vulgata dominated biotope (A1.1132), through this mosaic (A1.213) to a F. vesiculosus-dominated biotope (A1.313).
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
---|---|---|
Fucus ceranoides | Algae | |
Fucus serratus | Algae | |
Fucus spiralis | Algae | |
Fucus vesiculosus | Algae | |
Carcinus maenas | Invertebrates | |
Mytilus edulis | Invertebrates | |
Nucella lapillus | Dog whelk | Invertebrates |
Patella vulgata | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 | LR.LLR.F.Fves | <I>Fucus vesiculosus</I> on moderately exposed to sheltered mid eulittoral rock | source |
CORINE Land Cover | 4.2.3. | Intertidal flats | n/a |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A1.313 | Fucus vesiculosus on moderately exposed to sheltered mid eulittoral rock | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A1.313 | Fucus vesiculosus on sheltered mid eulittoral rock | wider |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A1.313 | Fucus vesiculosus on sheltered mid eulittoral rock | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A1.313 | Fucus vesiculosus on sheltered mid eulittoral rock | same |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | SLR.F.Fves | Fucus vesiculosus on sheltered mid eulittoral rock | same |