Turf algae on Black sea moderately exposed lower mediolittoral rock

Description (English)

Typically a narrow zone characterised by a cover of algal turf, particularly erect and crustose coralline algae on areas of moderately exposed bedrock and boulders in the lower mediolittoral zone. Characteristic species: Encrusting corallines (Lithophyllum incrustans), articulated corallines (Corallina officinalis) and ephemeral macrophytes like Ulva compressa, Cladophora sp. and Ceramiales make up the algal cover. Characteristic fauna includes the chiton Lepidochitona caprearum, the limpet Patella caerulea, barnacles Balanus improvisus, anemones Diadumene lineata, mussels Mytilaster lineatus and Mytilus galloprovincialis, bryozoans, amphipods (Hyale pontica, Ampithoe ramondi) and isopods (Idotea balthica, Sphaeroma pulchellum) crustaceans, and the crabs Pachygrapsus marmoratus and Eriphia verrucosa. If the water is clean Corallina and Mytilaster may form dense turfs/belts, with sparse cover of other algae (Ceramiales, Porphyra leucosticta, Ulva rigida, Scytosiphon lomentaria). In degraded, enriched areas Mytilus galloprovincialis and Balanus improvisusdominate, with some cover of the algae Cladophora vagabunda, Cladophora laetevirens, Ulva compressa, Ulva intestinalis and Ulothrix flacca.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification