Laminaria hyperborea park and foliose red seaweeds on moderately exposed lower infralittoral rock

English name: Laminaria hyperborea park and foliose red seaweeds on moderately exposed lower infralittoral rock

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code A3.2142
Bern Convention Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A3)

Description (English)

Below the dense kelp forest (unit A3.2141) on moderately exposed lower infralittoral bedrock and boulders, the kelp thins out to form a park. Beneath the kelp, the rock and kelp stipes are covered by an often dense turf of foliose red seaweeds such as Callophyllis laciniata, Plocamium cartilagineum, Delesseria sanguinea, Hypoglossum hypoglossoides, Cryptopleura ramosa, Callophyllis laciniata and Phycodrys rubens. Coralline crusts are often present on the rock surface. Many species of red seaweed found in this biotope occur at greater abundance in the shallower kelp forest. Other seaweeds, such as the red seaweeds Bonnemaisonia asparagoides and Hypoglossum hypoglossoides as well as the brown seaweed Dictyota dichotoma are more abundant in this zone than the upper infralittoral. The faunal component of this biotope is similar to that found below the kelp in the upper infralittoral zone and include the hydroid Obelia geniculata, the ascidian Clavelina lepadiformis, the anthozoans Urticina felina, Alcyonium digitatum and Caryophyllia smithii, the tube-building polychaete Pomatoceros triqueter and the gastropods Calliostoma zizyphinum and Gibbula cineraria. The gastropods Gibbula cineraria and Calliostoma zizyphinum and the echinoderm Echinus esculentus can be found grazing on the rock. Other echinoderms present include Asterias rubens and Antedon bifida which can be locally abundant, particularly in the north-west.
Situation: This biotope generally occurs below L. hyperborea forest (unit A3.2141) and marks the lower limit of the infralittoral rock. Occasionally a narrow band of foliose seaweeds (unit A3.116) may occur below the kelp park but generally circalittoral biotopes are found.
Temporal variation: The under-storey of foliose and filamentous seaweeds will diminish towards the autumn and regrow in the spring. When grazing urchins (predominantly E. esculentus) reach a large number in the kelp park their voracious grazing can substantially alter the community structure of the biotope, removing most of the seaweeds and leaving only coralline crusts on the rock. This is common around the coast of Scotland, particularly in Shetland and such sites should be recorded as unit A3.2143.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Algae Delesseria sanguinea
Algae Dictyota dichotoma
Algae Hypoglossum hypoglossoides
Algae Plocamium cartilagineum
Invertebrates Alcyonium digitatum
Invertebrates Antedon bifida
Invertebrates Asterias rubens
Invertebrates Calliostoma zizyphinum
Invertebrates Caryophyllia smithii
Invertebrates Clavelina lepadiformis
Invertebrates Echinus esculentus
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Delesseria sanguinea Algae
Dictyota dichotoma Algae
Hypoglossum hypoglossoides Algae
Plocamium cartilagineum Algae
Alcyonium digitatum Invertebrates
Antedon bifida Invertebrates
Asterias rubens Invertebrates
Calliostoma zizyphinum Invertebrates
Caryophyllia smithii Invertebrates
Clavelina lepadiformis Invertebrates
Echinus esculentus Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 IR.MIR.KR.Lhyp.Pk <I>Laminaria hyperborea</I> park and foliose red seaweeds on moderately exposed lower infralittoral rock source
CORINE Land Cover 5.2.3. Sea and ocean n/a
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 A3.2142 Laminaria hyperborea park and foliose red seaweeds on moderately exposed lower infralittoral rock same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A3.2122 Laminaria hyperborea park and foliose red seaweeds on moderately exposed lower infralittoral rock same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 A3.2122 Laminaria hyperborea park and foliose red seaweeds on moderately exposed lower infralittoral rock same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 A3.2122 Laminaria hyperborea park and foliose red seaweeds on moderately exposed lower infralittoral rock same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) MIR.KR.Lhyp.Pk Laminaria hyperborea park and foliose red seaweeds on moderately exposed lower infralittoral rock same
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