Infralittoral mobile clean sand with sparse fauna
Description (English)
Medium to fine sandy sediment in shallow water, often formed into dunes, on exposed or tide-swept coasts often contains very little infauna due to the mobility of the substratum. Some opportunistic populations of infaunal amphipods may occur, particularly in less mobile examples in conjunction with low numbers of mysids such as Gastrosaccus spinifer, the polychaete Nephtys cirrosa and the isopod Eurydice pulchra. Sand eels Ammodytes sp. may occasionally be observed in association with this biotope (and others). This biotope is more mobile than A5.233 and may be closely related to A2.221 on the shore. Common epifaunal species such as Pagurus bernhardus, Liocarcinus depurator, Carcinus maenas and Asterias rubens may be encountered and are the most conspicuous species present.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code A5.231 |
---|---|
Bern Convention | Included in a Resolution 4 habitat type at a higher level (A5) |
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
---|---|---|
Asterias rubens | Invertebrates | |
Carcinus maenas | Invertebrates | |
Eurydice pulchra | Invertebrates | |
Gastrosaccus spinifer | Invertebrates | |
Liocarcinus depurator | Invertebrates | |
Nephtys cirrosa | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 | SS.SSa.IFiSa.IMoSa | Infralittoral mobile clean sand with sparse fauna | source |
CORINE Land Cover | 5.2.3. | Sea and ocean | n/a |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A5.231 | Infralittoral mobile clean sand with sparse fauna | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A4.121 | Sparse fauna in marine infralittoral mobile clean sand | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A4.121 | Sparse fauna in marine infralittoral mobile clean sand | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A4.131 | Sparse fauna in marine infralittoral mobile clean sand | same |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | IGS.FaS.Mob | Sparse fauna in marine infralittoral mobile clean sand | same |