EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MA1 - Littoral rock > MA12 - Atlantic littoral rock > MA126 - Communities of Atlantic littoral rockpools > MA1261 - Green seaweeds (Enteromorpha spp. and Cladophora spp.) in shallow upper shore rockpools

Green seaweeds (Enteromorpha spp. and Cladophora spp.) in shallow upper shore rockpools

Description (English)

Rockpools in the littoral fringe or upper eulittoral zone subject to widely fluctuating temperatures and salinity are characterised by ephemeral green alga of the genus Enteromorpha, along with Cladophora spp. and Ulva lactuca. Due to the physical stress imposed on these upper shore pools, grazing molluscs such as the limpet Patella vulgata and the winkles Littorina littorea and Littorina saxatilis are generally in lower abundance than eulittoral pools, allowing the green seaweeds to proliferate under reduced grazing pressures. The bright orange copepod Tigriopus fulvus is tolerant of large salinity fluctuations and may occur in large numbers in these upper shore pools, along with gammarid amphipods.
Situation: Rockpools throughout the upper eulittoral and lower littoral fringe in bedrock.
Temporal variation: Fluctuations especially in the abundance of the green seaweeds will occur due to marked changes in salinity and temperature during the year. Enteromorpha intestinalis can often be bleached during the summer.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MA1261
Relation to	Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

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)	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 Ulva lactuca

Invertebrates Patella vulgata

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Enteromorpha intestinalis		Algae
Ulva lactuca		Algae
Patella vulgata		Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A1.421	Green seaweeds (Enteromorpha spp. and Cladophora spp.) in shallow upper shore rockpools	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A1.42	Communities of rockpools in the supralittoral zone	same

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A1.42	Communities of rockpools in the supralittoral zone	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A1.421	Green seaweeds (Enteromorpha spp. and Cladophora spp.) in shallow upper shore rockpools	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A1.521	Green seaweeds (Enteromorpha spp. and Cladophora spp.) in upper shore rockpools	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A1.52	Communities of rockpools in the supralittoral zone	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A1.521	Green seaweeds (Enteromorpha spp. and Cladophora spp.) in upper shore rockpools	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A1.52	Communities of rockpools in the supralittoral zone	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A1.521	Green seaweeds (Enteromorpha spp. and Cladophora spp.) in upper shore rockpools	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A1.52	Communities of rockpools in the supralittoral zone	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	B3.12	Supralittoral rockpools	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	A1.13	Supralittoral rock pools	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	11.297	Supralittoral rock pools	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	11.297	Supralittoral rock pools	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	11.297		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	11.297		same
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	18.17		same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	LR.Rkp.G	Green seaweeds (Enteromorpha spp. and Caldophora spp.) in upper shore rockpools	same
MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland)	RKP		narrower

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