EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MA1 - Littoral rock > MA12 - Atlantic littoral rock > MA124 - Mussel and/or barnacle communities with seaweeds on Atlantic littoral rock > MA1246 - Mytilus edulis and Fucus vesiculosus on moderately exposed mid eulittoral rock

Mytilus edulis and Fucus vesiculosus on moderately exposed mid eulittoral rock

Description (English)

Mid eulittoral exposed to moderately exposed bedrock, often with nearby sediment, covered by a dense band or large patches of the mussel Mytilus edulis . The community often supports scattered Fucus vesiculosus and occasional foliose red seaweeds such as Porphyra umbilicalis, Osmundea pinnatifida, Mastocarpus stellatus, Palmaria palmata or the calcareous algae Corallina officinalis. The ephemeral green seaweeds Enteromorpha intestinalis and Ulva lactuca commonly occur on the shells of the mussels. The barnacle Semibalanus balanoides is common on both the mussel valves and on patches of bare rock, where the limpet Patella vulgata also can be found. The whelk Nucella lapillus and the winkle Littorina littorea can be found within the mussel bed.
Situation: Above this biotope is a M. edulis and S. balanoides dominated biotope (unit MA1-223) or a F. vesiculosus dominated biotope (unit MA1-243). In the lower eulittoral zone below MA1-246 is a biotope dominated by the wrack Fucus serratus, M. edulis and a higher diversity of red seaweeds (units MA1-247; MA1-2441).

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code MA1246
Relation to Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Algae Fucus vesiculosus
Algae Ulva lactuca
Invertebrates Nucella lapillus
Invertebrates Patella vulgata
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Fucus vesiculosus Algae
Ulva lactuca 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) A1.221 Mytilus edulis and Fucus vesiculosus on moderately exposed mid eulittoral rock same
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type Comment
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 A1.221 Mytilus edulis and Fucus vesiculosus on moderately exposed mid eulittoral rock same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A1.251 Mytilus edulis and Fucus vesiculosus on moderately exposed mid eulittoral rock same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 A1.251 Mytilus edulis and Fucus vesiculosus on moderately exposed mid eulittoral rock same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 A1.241 Mytilus edulis and Fucus vesiculosus on moderately exposed mid eulittoral rock same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) MLR.MF.MytFves Mytilus edulis and Fucus vesiculosus on moderately exposed mid eulittoral rock same
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