Ostrea edulis beds on shallow sublittoral muddy mixed sediment
Description (English)
Dense beds of the oyster Ostrea edulis can occur on muddy fine sand or sandy mud mixed sediments. There may be considerable quantities of dead oyster shell making up a substantial portion of the substratum. The clumps of dead shells and oysters can support large numbers of Ascidiella aspersa and Ascidiella scabra. Sponges such as Halichondria bowerbanki may also be present. Several conspicuously large polychaetes, such as Chaetopterus variopedatus and terebellids, as well as additional suspension-feeding polychaetes such as Myxicola infundibulum and Sabella pavonina may be important in distinguishing this biotope, whilst the Opisthobranch Philine aperta may also be frequent in some areas. A turf of seaweeds such as Plocamium cartilagineum, Nitophyllum punctatum and Spyridia filamentosa may also be present. This biotope description may need expansion to account for oyster beds in England.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code A5.435 |
---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|
Plocamium cartilagineum | Algae | |
Spyridia filamentosa | Algae | |
Ascidiella scabra | Invertebrates | |
Ostrea edulis | Flat oyster | Invertebrates |
Sabella pavonina | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
Marine Habitat Classification Britain/Ireland 0405 | SS.SMx.IMx.Ost | <I>Ostrea edulis</I> beds on shallow sublittoral muddy mixed sediment | source |
CORINE Land Cover | 5.2.3. | Sea and ocean | n/a |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A5.435 | Ostrea edulis beds on shallow sublittoral muddy mixed sediment | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A4.63 | Oyster beds | wider |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A4.631 | Ostrea edulis beds on shallow sublittoral muddy sediment | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A4.631 | Ostrea edulis beds on shallow sublittoral muddy sediment | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A4.63 | Oyster beds | wider |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A4.431 | Ostrea edulis beds on shallow sublittoral muddy sediment | same |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A4.43 | Oyster beds | wider |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | A4.43 | Ostrea edulis beds | wider |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | A4.42 | Oyster beds | same |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | IMX.Oy.Ost | Ostrea edulis beds on shallow sublittoral muddy sediment | same |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | IMX.Oy | Oyster beds | wider |
MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland) | IMX.Ost | narrower |