Coralline crust-dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code MA1262 |
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Relation to | Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites) |
Description (English)
Shallow and smaller rockpools throughout the eulittoral zone in a wide range of wave exposures characterised by a covering of encrusting coralline algae on which Corallina officinalis often forms a dense turf. The bottom of these pools can be covered in coarse gravel and cobbles. These 'coralline' pools have a striking appearance as they are dominated by red seaweeds. Foliose red seaweeds found in these pools include Mastocarpus stellatus, Chondrus crispus and the filamentous Ceramium nodulosum. The ephemeral green seaweeds Cladophora rupestris, Ulva lactuca and Enteromorpha spp. can also occur in high abundance. The pools may hold large numbers of grazing molluscs, particularly the winkle Littorina littorea (which often occur in exceptionally high densities in upper shore pools) and the limpet Patella vulgata. Gastropods may graze these pools to such an extent that they is devoid of any foliose red seaweeds, and the flora are reduced to encrusting coralline algae and large numbers of gastropods. Large brown seaweeds are generally absent. Within the pools, pits and crevices are often occupied by the anemone Actinia equina and small individuals of the mussel Mytilus edulis. The whelk Nucella lapillus can be found on the rock surface preying on the barnacles and mussels. A number of variants have been identified. Pools dominated by coralline algae and foliose red seaweeds with a distribution throughout the UK (see unit MA1-2621). In Ireland, the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus can dominate these shallow coralline pools (see MA1-2622). In south-west Britain, the brown seaweed Bifurcaria bifurcata (MA1-2623) or Cystoseira spp. (MA1-2624) can be regionally dominant.
Situation: Rockpools throughout the eulittoral and lower littoral fringe on rocky 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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Bifurcaria bifurcata | Algae | |
Cladophora rupestris | Algae | |
Corallina officinalis | Algae | |
Ulva lactuca | Algae | |
Actinia equina | Invertebrates | |
Nucella lapillus | Dog whelk | Invertebrates |
Paracentrotus lividus | Invertebrates | |
Patella vulgata | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | A1.411 | Coralline crust-dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools | same |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A1.411 | Coralline crust-dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A1.511 | Corallina officinalis and coralline crusts in shallow eulittoral rockpools | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A1.511 | Corallina officinalis and coralline crusts in shallow eulittoral rockpools | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A1.511 | Corallina officinalis and coralline crusts in shallow eulittoral rockpools | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | A1.51 | Shallow eulittoral rockpools with coralline crusts and/or dense gastropod communities | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | A1.51 | Rockpool communities dominated by gastropods | same | |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | LR.Rkp.Cor | Corallina officinalis and coralline crusts in shallow eulittoral rockpools | same | |
MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland) | RKP.Gas | narrower |