Pelvetia canaliculata on sheltered littoral fringe rock

Description (English)

Lower littoral fringe bedrock or stable boulders and mixed substrata in sheltered to extremely sheltered conditions characterised by a dense cover of the wrack Pelvetia canaliculata. The biotope may be present in localised sheltered patches on moderately exposed shores. P. canaliculata overgrows a crust of black lichens Verrucaria maura or the non-calcified red algae Hildenbrandia rubra on very sheltered shores. Individuals of the wrack Fucus spiralis can usually be found among the P. canaliculata and/or in lower part of the biotope. This biotope lacks the density of barnacles found amongst the P. canaliculata on more exposed shores. The winkle Littorina saxatilis occurs, as do a variety of amphipods. The red alga Catenella caespitosa can be present especially in more shaded areas while the green seaweed Enteromorpha spp. can be present in moist areas.
Situation: This biotope is found in the lower littoral fringe on sheltered shores below biotopes dominated by V. maura (unit MA1-2132) and above biotopes dominated by F. spiralis (unit MA1-242). Though not typical, this biotope may occur on moderately exposed shores where local topography provides shelter.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification