EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MA1 - Littoral rock > MA12 - Atlantic littoral rock > MA123 - Seaweed communities on full salinity Atlantic littoral rock > MA123E - Ascophyllum nodosum on very sheltered mid eulittoral rock

Ascophyllum nodosum on very sheltered mid eulittoral rock

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MA123E
Relation to	Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Description (English)

Sheltered to extremely sheltered mid eulittoral rock with the wrack Ascophyllum nodosum. The red seaweed Polysiphonia lanosa is often found growing as an epiphyte on the A. nodosum fronds while disturbed areas among the A. nodosum is colonised by the wrack Fucus vesiculosus and the green seaweed Enteromorpha intestinalis.e barnacle Semibalanus balanoides, the limpet Patella vulgata and Littorina littorea can all be found on the bedrock underneath the A. nodosum canopy along with coralline crusts. The whelk Nucella lapillus can be found preying on the barnacles and limpets. Three variants of this biotope are described. These are: full salinity (unit MA1-23E1), mixed substrata (unit MA1-23E2) and the loose lying growth form A. nodosum ecad mackaii found on very sheltered shores (MA1-255). Two other biotopes has been identified as well tide-swept (MA1-238) and variable salinity (MA1-254).
Situation: This biotope is usually found between the wrack Fucus spiralis (MA1-23C) and F. serratus dominated biotopes (MA1-23F), although on some shores a narrow zone of F. vesiculosus (MA1-23D) may occur immediately above the A. nodosum. With increasing wave exposure the A. nodosum canopy is replaced by F. vesiculosus (MA1-243; MA1-23D). Unit MA1-23E can occur on more exposed shores, where there is localised shelter.
Temporal variation: A. nodosum communities are generally very stable communities with individual plants reaching ages of more than 25 years on shores with little wave-action.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

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 Enteromorpha intestinalis

Algae Fucus spiralis

Algae Fucus vesiculosus

Invertebrates Nucella lapillus

Invertebrates Patella vulgata

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Enteromorpha intestinalis		Algae
Fucus spiralis		Algae
Fucus vesiculosus		Algae
Nucella lapillus	Dog whelk	Invertebrates
Patella vulgata		Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A1.314	Ascophyllum nodosum on very sheltered mid eulittoral rock	same

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A1.314	Ascophyllum nodosum on very sheltered mid eulittoral rock	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A1.314	Ascophyllum nodosum on very sheltered mid eulittoral rock	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A1.314	Ascophyllum nodosum on very sheltered mid eulittoral rock	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A1.314	Ascophyllum nodosum on very sheltered mid eulittoral rock	same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	SLR.F.Asc	Ascophyllum nodosum on very sheltered mid eulittoral rock	same

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