EUNIS habitat classification 2012 amended 2019 > A - Marine habitats > A3 - Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata > A3.3 - Atlantic and Mediterranean low energy infralittoral rock > A3.32 - Kelp in variable salinity on low energy infralittoral rock > A3.323 - Laminaria saccharina with Phyllophora spp. and filamentous green seaweeds on variable or reduced salinity infralittoral rock

Laminaria saccharina with Phyllophora spp. and filamentous green seaweeds on variable or reduced salinity infralittoral rock

English name: Laminaria saccharina with Phyllophora spp. and filamentous green seaweeds on variable or reduced salinity infralittoral rock

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code A3.323
Bern Convention Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A3)

Description (English)

Shallow infralittoral bedrock or boulder slopes, in reduced or low salinity conditions, characterised by the kelp Laminaria saccharina with dense stands of silted filamentous green seaweeds and red seaweeds Phyllophora crispa, Phyllophora pseudoceranoides and Phycodrys rubens. The filamentous green seaweeds e.g. Chaetomorpha melagonium and Cladophora spp. can form a blanket cover amongst the L. saccharina in the upper zone, which is under greater influence of freshwater input. In deeper water the green seaweeds are replaced by red seaweed Phyllophora spp. or Polysiphonia fucoides which may form a distinct sub-zone in the biotope. Coralline crust can be present. The solitary ascidians Corella parallelogramma and Ascidiella scabra are often epiphytic on the seaweed (particularly Phyllophora spp.) and dominate the animal community along with the starfish Asterias rubens. The small ascidian Dendrodoa grossularia, the barnacle Balanus crenatus and the tube-building polychaete Pomatoceros triqueter occur on the rock surface. More mobile species include the crab Carcinus maenas, the hermit crab Pagurus bernhardus and the whelk Buccinum undatum. Bryozoans Electra pilosa and Spirorbis sp. may cover kelp fronds. The red seaweed Odonthalia dentata may be present in the north.
Situation: The ascidians found in this unit may continue onto the circalittoral rock below where dense colonies of anthozoans and brachiopods can also be found (A4.3142). Where tidal streams are increased, sponge and hydroid communities may occur below (A4.252).

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Algae Laminaria saccharina
Algae Odonthalia dentata
Algae Phyllophora crispa
Algae Polysiphonia fucoides
Invertebrates Ascidiella scabra
Invertebrates Asterias rubens
Invertebrates Buccinum undatum
Invertebrates Carcinus maenas
Invertebrates Dendrodoa grossularia
Invertebrates Electra pilosa
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Laminaria saccharina Algae
Odonthalia dentata Algae
Phyllophora crispa Algae
Polysiphonia fucoides Algae
Ascidiella scabra Invertebrates
Asterias rubens Invertebrates
Buccinum undatum Invertebrates
Carcinus maenas Invertebrates
Dendrodoa grossularia Invertebrates
Electra pilosa Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 IR.LIR.KVS.LsacPhyVS <I>Laminaria saccharina</I> with <I>Phyllophora</I> spp. and filamentous green seaweeds on variable or reduced salinity 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 A3.323 Laminaria saccharina with Phyllophora spp. and filamentous green seaweeds on variable or reduced salinity infralittoral rock same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A3.3143 Laminaria saccharina and Phyllophora spp. and filamentous green seaweeds on reduced or low salinity infralittoral rock same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A3.314 Laminaria saccharina on reduced or low salinity infralittoral rock narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 A3.3143 Laminaria saccharina and Phyllophora spp. and filamentous green seaweeds on reduced or low salinity infralittoral rock same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 A3.3143 Laminaria saccharina and Phyllophora spp. and filamentous green seaweeds on reduced or low salinity infralittoral rock same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) SIR.K.LsacRS.Phy Laminaria saccharina and Phyllophora spp. and filamentous green seaweeds on reduced or low salinity infralittoral rock same
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