Laminaria saccharina park on very sheltered lower infralittoral rock
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code A3.3133 |
---|---|
Bern Convention | Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A3) |
Description (English)
Silty bedrock or boulders with a Laminaria saccharina park (often the cape-form). Beneath the canopy, the rock is covered by encrusting coralline algae, and the urchin Echinus esculentus is often present. Due to the amount of silt cover on the rock and the reduced light intensity beneath the broad-fronded kelp, only a few red seaweeds typically survive, the most common species being Phycodrys rubens, Delesseria sanguinea, Bonnemaisonia spp. and Brongniartella byssoides. The brown seaweeds Dictyota dichotoma and Cutleria multifida may be present in low abundance. Compared to the kelp forest zone above (A3.3121) both the kelp and other seaweeds are sparse (Occasional). The most conspicuous animals are large solitary ascidians, particularly Ascidia mentula and Ciona intestinalis, together with the smaller Clavelina lepadiformis. In general, the faunal component of this biotope is similar to other sheltered kelp biotopes and includes a variety of mobile crustaceans such Carcinus maenas and Pagurus bernhardus, the keelworm Pomatoceros spp., terebellid worms, echinoderms Asterias rubens, Ophiothrix fragilis and the featherstar Antedon bifida. The hydroid Kirchenpauria pinnata, although only rare is often found in the kelp park along with the top shell Gibbula cineraria and the barnacle Balanus crenatus.
Situation: L. saccharina park can be found below a similar forest (unit A3.3121) where suitable hard substrata exist or on isolated rock exposures surrounded by sediment communities. It may also occur below a zone of mixed Laminaria hyperborea and L. saccharina forest (A3.312). L. saccharina can also form a band below L. hyperborea forest (A3.2141) where some shelter from wave-action is afforded with depth (L. saccharina is not tolerant of surge), or more likely where L. hyperborea has been grazed out (below A3.2143) since L. saccharina grows far quicker than L. hyperborea. Where such a narrow band occurs it is generally less silted than that found below A3.3121 in much more sheltered conditions. A range of sheltered circalittoral biotopes may occur on any deeper rock below (e.g. units A4.313, A4 311 and A5.623).
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 |
---|---|---|
Brongniartella byssoides | Algae | |
Cutleria multifida | Algae | |
Delesseria sanguinea | Algae | |
Dictyota dichotoma | Algae | |
Laminaria hyperborea | Algae | |
Laminaria saccharina | Algae | |
Phycodrys rubens | Algae | |
Antedon bifida | Invertebrates | |
Ascidia mentula | Invertebrates | |
Asterias rubens | Invertebrates | |
Balanus crenatus | Invertebrates | |
Carcinus maenas | Invertebrates | |
Ciona intestinalis | Invertebrates | |
Clavelina lepadiformis | Invertebrates | |
Echinus esculentus | Invertebrates | |
Gibbula cineraria | Invertebrates | |
Ophiothrix fragilis | Invertebrates | |
Pagurus bernhardus | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 | IR.LIR.K.Lsac.Pk | <I>Laminaria saccharina</I> park on very sheltered lower infralittoral rock | source |
CORINE Land Cover | 5.2.3. | Sea and ocean | n/a |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A3.3133 | Laminaria saccharina park on very sheltered lower infralittoral rock | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.3123 | Laminaria saccharina park on very sheltered lower infralittoral rock | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.3123 | Laminaria saccharina park on very sheltered lower infralittoral rock | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3.3123 | Laminaria saccharina park on very sheltered lower infralittoral rock | same |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | SIR.K.Lsac.Pk | Laminaria saccharina park on very sheltered lower infralittoral rock | same |