Fucus serratus on full salinity sheltered lower eulittoral rock
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code MA123F1 |
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Relation to | Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites) |
Description (English)
Sheltered lower eulittoral rock subject to fully marine conditions characterised by a dense canopy of the wrack Fucus serratus. There is a wide range of associated species found on the surface of the rock underneath the canopy, including the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides, limpets Patella vulgata, winkles Littorina littorea, and even mussels Mytilus edulis can be present in cracks and crevices. These species are usually found in higher abundance further up on the shore. There may also be a number of other seaweeds present, including the red Corallina officinalis and Mastocarpus stellatus, the wrack Fucus vesiculosus and the green Enteromorpha intestinalis, Ulva lactuca or Cladophora rupestris, though these usually are present in low numbers if present at all. The sponge Halichondria panicea can be present underneath the F. serratus canopy in moist cracks or minor overhangs. Polychaetes such as Pomatoceros triqueter and Spirorbis spp. are present in their white calcareous tubes on the rock.
Situation: This biotope usually occurs immediately below a Fucus vesiculosus -barnacle mosaic (unit MA1-243) on moderately exposed shores or a dense canopy of F. vesiculosus (MA1-23D) or Ascophyllum nodosum (MA1-23E1) on sheltered shores; consequently low densities of these species (typically less than Frequent) may also occur in this biotope. The sub littoral fringe below on moderately exposed shores is dominated by the kelp Laminaria digitata (MB1-2172; MB1-2172), while the kelp Laminaria saccharina may co-dominate on sheltered shores (MB1-23A1; MB1-2391).
Temporal variation: Fluctuations from year to year in the abundance of the F. serratus and the red seaweeds due to e.g. severe storms may convert this biotope into either MA1-2441 or into a red seaweed dominated biotope on moderately exposed shores.
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 |
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Ascophyllum nodosum | Algae | |
Cladophora rupestris | Algae | |
Corallina officinalis | Algae | |
Enteromorpha intestinalis | Algae | |
Fucus serratus | Algae | |
Fucus vesiculosus | Algae | |
Laminaria digitata | Algae | |
Laminaria saccharina | Algae | |
Mastocarpus stellatus | Algae | |
Ulva lactuca | Algae | |
Halichondria panicea | Invertebrates | |
Littorina littorea | Invertebrates | |
Mytilus edulis | Invertebrates | |
Patella vulgata | Invertebrates | |
Pomatoceros triqueter | Invertebrates | |
Semibalanus balanoides | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | A1.3151 | Fucus serratus on full salinity sheltered lower eulittoral rock | same |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A1.3151 | Fucus serratus on full salinity sheltered lower eulittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A1.315 | Fucus serratus on sheltered lower eulittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A1.315 | Fucus serratus on sheltered lower eulittoral rock | same | |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | SLR.F.Fserr | Fucus serratus on sheltered lower eulittoral rock | same |