Oligochaetes in variable or reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sediment
Description (English)
Reduced or variable salinity muddy and sandy mud sediments characterised by oligochaetes, particularly of the genus Tubificoides or from the group Enchytraeidae. The abundance of the oligochaetes may vary by several orders of magnitude but very few other species will be present. Organic loading and poor water-exchange within the sediment lead to anoxic conditions which may explain the low species richness within this biotope.
Situation: This biotope is found towards the edges of tidal channels in estuaries where current velocities allow deposition of silt and the establishment of an infaunal community. The biotope may occur downstream of A5.327, differentiated by the absence of the freshwater species, and adjacent to more mobile and sandier biotopes in the tidal channels.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
| EUNIS habitat type | code A5.326 |
|---|---|
| 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
Other classifications
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 | SS.SMu.SMuVS.OlVS | Oligochaetes in variable or reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sediment | source |
| CORINE Land Cover | 5.2.2. | Estuaries | n/a |
History
| Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A5.326 | Oligochaetes in variable or reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sediment | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A4.325 | Oligochaetes in variable or reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sediment | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A4.325 | Tubificoides spp. in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sediment | same |
| EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A4.325 | Tubificoides spp. in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sediment | same |
| MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | IMU.EstMu.Tub | Tubificoides spp. in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sediment | same |
