EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MA1 - Littoral rock > MA12 - Atlantic littoral rock > MA123 - Seaweed communities on full salinity Atlantic littoral rock > MA1237 - Ceramium sp. and piddocks on eulittoral fossilised peat

Ceramium sp. and piddocks on eulittoral fossilised peat

Description (English)

Outcrops of fossilised peat in the eulittoral are soft enough to allow a variety of piddocks such as Barnea candida and Petricola pholadiformis to bore into them. The surface of the peat can be characterised by a dense algal mat, predominantly the red seaweed Ceramium spp. and with the green seaweeds Ulva lactuca and Enteromorpha intestinalis. Damp areas in the algal mat are covered by aggregations of the polychaetes Lanice conchilega and Polydora sp. The crabs Carcinus maenas and Cancer pagurus occur in crevices in the peat. Small pools on the peat may contain hydroids, such as Obelia longissima and Kirchenpaueria pinnata, the brown alga Dictyota dichotoma and the crustacean Crangon crangon. Description derived largely from sites in north Norfolk and this community could possibly be found on other "soft" substrata. Further records of this community are required in order to validate the description.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MA1237
Relation to	Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Legal text	Annex	Name in legal text	Code in legal text	Habitat type relationship	More information
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Estuaries	1130	Overlap	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Large shallow inlets and bays	1160	Narrower	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Reefs	1170	Narrower	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Algae Dictyota dichotoma

Algae Enteromorpha intestinalis

Invertebrates Cancer pagurus

Invertebrates Carcinus maenas

Invertebrates Crangon crangon

Invertebrates Kirchenpaueria pinnata

Invertebrates Lanice conchilega

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Dictyota dichotoma		Algae
Enteromorpha intestinalis		Algae
Cancer pagurus		Invertebrates
Carcinus maenas		Invertebrates
Crangon crangon		Invertebrates
Kirchenpaueria pinnata		Invertebrates
Lanice conchilega		Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A1.127	Ceramium sp. and piddocks on eulittoral fossilised peat	same

For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A1.127	Ceramium sp. and piddocks on eulittoral fossilised peat	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A1.235	Ceramium sp. and piddocks on eulittoral fossilised peat	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A1.235	Ceramium sp. and piddocks on eulittoral fossilised peat	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A1.225	Ceramium sp. and piddocks on eulittoral fossilised peat	same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	MLR.R.RPid	Ceramium sp. and piddocks on eulittoral fossilised peat	same

Write to us

Call us

Sections