Fucus vesiculosus on mid eulittoral mixed substrata
Description (English)
Sheltered and very sheltered mid eulittoral pebbles and cobbles lying on sediment in fully marine conditions typically characterised by the wrack Fucus vesiculosus. The wrack Ascophyllum nodosum can occasionally be found on larger boulders while the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides and the limpet Patella vulgata also can be present on the cobbles with the whelk Nucella lapillus preying on the barnacles and on the mussel Mytilus edulis. Winkles, particularly Littorina littorea and Littorina obtusata, commonly graze the biofilm on the seaweeds, while Littorina saxatilis can be found in crevices. Ephemeral seaweeds such as Enteromorpha intestinalis may be present in this biotope. The sediment between patches of hard substrata often contains the polychaete Arenicola marina or the polychaete Lanice conchilega, while a variety of gastropods and the crab Carcinus maenas occur on and under cobbles.
Situation: This unit can be found below the biotope dominated by the wrack Fucus spiralis (unit MA1-23C2) or a community dominated by S. balanoides, P. vulgata and L. littorea (unit MA4-231). It is found above a community dominated by M. edulis beds (MA1-221) or the wrack Fucus serratus (MA1-23F2).
Temporal variation: Some variation in the ephemeral seaweeds and their abundance depending on season is likely.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code MA123D2 |
---|---|
Relation to | Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites) |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
---|---|---|
Ascophyllum nodosum | Algae | |
Enteromorpha intestinalis | Algae | |
Fucus serratus | Algae | |
Fucus spiralis | Algae | |
Fucus vesiculosus | Algae | |
Arenicola marina | Invertebrates | |
Carcinus maenas | Invertebrates | |
Lanice conchilega | Invertebrates | |
Littorina littorea | Invertebrates | |
Littorina obtusata | Invertebrates | |
Littorina saxatilis | Invertebrates | |
Mytilus edulis | Invertebrates | |
Nucella lapillus | Dog whelk | Invertebrates |
Patella vulgata | Invertebrates | |
Semibalanus balanoides | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | A1.3132 | Fucus vesiculosus on mid eulittoral mixed substrata | same |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A1.3132 | Fucus vesiculosus on mid eulittoral mixed substrata | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A1.322 | Fucus vesiculosus on mid eulittoral variable salinity boulders and stable mixed substrata | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A1.322 | Fucus vesiculosus on mid eulittoral mixed substrata | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A1.322 | Fucus vesiculosus on mid eulittoral mixed substrata | same | |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | SLR.FX.FvesX | Fucus vesiculosus on mid eulittoral mixed substrata | same |