Ascophyllum nodosum on full salinity mid eulittoral mixed substrata
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code MA123E2 |
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Relation to | Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites) |
Description (English)
Sheltered to extremely sheltered full salinity mixed substrata (cobbles, boulders and pebbles on sediment) characterised by a canopy formed by a mosaic of the wracks Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus. The red seaweed Polysiphonia lanosa can often be found as an epiphyte on the A. nodosum. The mussel Mytilus edulis often occurs in clumps, and provides further suitable substrata for the attachment of fucoids and red and green seaweeds such as Polysiphonia spp. and Enteromorpha intestinalis or the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides. Winkles are common and Littorina littorea and Littorina obtusata/mariae may occur in high densities, while species such as the limpet Patella vulgata, the crab Carcinus maenas and the whelk Nucella lapillus may occur on and around the boulders. Gammarids can be found underneath the boulders or among the seaweeds, while tube-forming spirorbids are found on the boulders, shells or on the F. vesiculosus. Infaunal species including the polychaetes Arenicola marina and Lanice conchilega may occur in the sediment between the cobbles.
Situation: A sparse S. balanoides, P. vulgata and L. littorea community (unit MA4-231) can occur above this biotope. On shores with a proportion of smaller cobbles and boulders, large A. nodosum plants become uncommon and F. vesiculosus dominates the canopy (MA1-23D2). F. vesiculosus also tends to replace A. nodosum in areas with freshwater influence. Below this biotope are either a Fucus serratus dominated biotope (MA1-23F2) or a M. edulis dominated biotope (MA1-221).
Temporal variation: A. nodosum communities tend to be stable due to longevity of the individual A. nodosum, but because of the mixed substrata some variation in the densities of F. vesiculosus and A. nodosum can be expected.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
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 vesiculosus | Algae | |
Polysiphonia lanosa | Algae | |
Arenicola marina | Invertebrates | |
Carcinus maenas | Invertebrates | |
Lanice conchilega | Invertebrates | |
Littorina littorea | 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) | A1.3142 | Ascophyllum nodosum on full salinity mid eulittoral mixed substrata | same |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A1.3142 | Ascophyllum nodosum on full salinity mid eulittoral mixed substrata | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A1.323 | Ascophyllum nodosum on full salinity mid eulittoral mixed substrata | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A1.323 | Ascophyllum nodosum on mid eulittoral mixed substrata | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A1.323 | Ascophyllum nodosum on mid eulittoral mixed substrata | same | |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | SLR.FX.AscX | Ascophyllum nodosum on mid eulittoral mixed substrata | same |