EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MA1 - Littoral rock > MA12 - Atlantic littoral rock > MA122 - Mytilus edulis and/or barnacle communities on wave-exposed Atlantic littoral rock > MA1223 - Semibalanus balanoides on exposed to moderately exposed or vertical sheltered eulittoral rock

Semibalanus balanoides on exposed to moderately exposed or vertical sheltered eulittoral rock

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code MA1223
Relation to Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Description (English)

Exposed to moderately exposed mid to upper eulittoral bedrock and large boulders characterised by dense barnacles Semibalanus balanoides and the limpet Patella vulgata. The community has a relatively low diversity of species though occasional cracks and crevices in the rock can provide a refuge for small individuals of the mussel Mytilus edulis, the winkle Littorina saxatilis and the whelk Nucella lapillus. Seaweeds are usually not found in high numbers though fissures and crevices in the bedrock can hold a sparse algal community including the green seaweed Enteromorpha intestinalis. On some shores the olive green lichen Verrucaria mucosa can be present in some abundance (Frequent). Three variants have been described: A S. balanoides and P. vulgata dominated community on bedrock (MA1-2231); S. balanoides and sparse Fucus vesioculosus and red seaweeds (MA1-2232); and barnacles and L. littorea eulittoral boulders and cobbles (MA1-2233).
Situation: On very exposed to exposed shores Chthamalus spp. (see MA1-222 and subunits for geographical variation) often forms a distinct white band above a darker band of S. balanoides in the mid eulittoral zone. Alternatively, the black lichen Verrucaria maura dominated biotopes (MA1-2131 or MA1-2132) may be found above MA1-223. In the lower eulittoral and the sublittoral fringe a community dominated by the wrack Himanthalia elongata and various red seaweeds such as Corallina officinalis, Mastocarpus stellatus and Osmundea pinnatifida (MA1-233; MA1-232; MA1-236) often occurs. MA1-223 may also occur on steep and vertical faces on more sheltered shores, while fucoids dominate the flatter areas (MA1-243; MA1-2232).
Temporal variation: Periods with little scour or calmer weather can allow a seaweed community to develop, creating a more diverse biotope (i.e. MA1-23D or MA1-243). This is a dynamic process, which will change individual sites over time. More information is required to determine the exact nature of this process.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Algae Corallina officinalis
Algae Enteromorpha intestinalis
Invertebrates Mytilus edulis
Invertebrates Nucella lapillus
Invertebrates Patella vulgata
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Corallina officinalis Algae
Enteromorpha intestinalis Algae
Mytilus edulis Invertebrates
Nucella lapillus Dog whelk Invertebrates
Patella vulgata Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) A1.113 Semibalanus balanoides on exposed to moderately exposed or vertical sheltered eulittoral rock same
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type Comment
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 A1.113 Semibalanus balanoides on exposed to moderately exposed or vertical sheltered eulittoral rock same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A1.321 Barnacles and Littorina littorea on unstable eulittoral mixed substrata overlap
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A1.112 Barnacles and Patella spp. on exposed or moderately exposed, or vertical sheltered, eulittoral rock wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 A1.321 Barnacles and Littorina littorea on unstable eulittoral mixed substrata overlap
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 A1.112 Barnacles and Patella spp. on exposed or moderately exposed, or vertical sheltered, eulittoral rock overlap
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 A1.112 Barnacles and Patella spp. on exposed or moderately exposed, or vertical sheltered, eulittoral rock overlap
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 A1.321 Barnacles and Littorina littorea on unstable eulittoral mixed substrata overlap
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) ELR.MB.BPat Barnacles and Patella spp. on exposed or moderately exposed, or vertical sheltered, eulittoral rock overlap
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) SLR.FX.BLlit Barnacles and Littorina littorea on unstable eulittoral mixed substrata overlap
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