EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MA2 - Littoral biogenic habitat > MA22 - Atlantic littoral biogenic habitat

Atlantic littoral biogenic habitat

Description (English)

Littoral biogenic habitats on Atlantic coasts include saltmarshes and reefs formed by Sabellaria alveolata and Mytilus edulis.
Saltmarshes are angiosperm-dominated stands of vegetation, occurring on the extreme upper shore of sheltered coasts and periodically covered by high tides. The vegetation develops on a variety of sandy and muddy sediment types and may have admixtures of coarser material. The character of the saltmarsh communities is affected by height up the shore, resulting in a zonation pattern related to the degree or frequency of immersion in seawater.
Littoral biogenic reefs include Sabellaria reefs (MA2-26) dominated by the honeycomb worm Sabellaria alveolata and mixed sediment shores with mussels (MA2-27) with Mytilus edulis- dominated communities.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MA22
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)	Estuaries	1130	Overlap	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)	Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide	1140	Overlap	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)	Large shallow inlets and bays	1160	Overlap	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	Overlap	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)	Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand	1310	Wider	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)	Spartina swards (Spartinion maritimae)	1320	Wider	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)	Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae)	1330	Overlap	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)	Coastal saltmarshes and saline reedbeds	A2.5	Overlap	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

Not available

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A2.5	Coastal saltmarshes and saline reedbeds	overlap
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A2.6	Littoral sediments dominated by aquatic angiosperms	overlap
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A2.7	Littoral biogenic reefs	overlap

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A2.5	Coastal saltmarshes and saline reedbeds	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A2.6	Littoral sediments dominated by aquatic angiosperms	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A2.7	Littoral biogenic reefs	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A2.8	Littoral biogenic structures	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A2.6	Coastal saltmarshes and saline reedbeds	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A2.7	Littoral sediments dominated by aquatic angiosperms	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A2.6	Coastal saltmarshes and saline reedbeds	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A2.8	Biogenic structures on littoral sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A2.7	Littoral sediments dominated by aquatic angiosperms	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A2.6	Coastal saltmarshes and saline reedbeds	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A2.7	Littoral sediments dominated by aquatic angiosperms	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	A2.7	Littoral sediments dominated by macrophytes	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	A2.6	Coastal saltmarshes and saline habitats	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	B3	Coastal saltmarshes and halophytic habitats	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	15	Saltmarshes, salt steppes, salt scrubs	wider
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	15	Saltmarshes, salt steppes, salt scrubs	wider
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	15		wider
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	15		wider
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	15		wider
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1989	15.1		wider
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	LMU.Sm	Saltmarsh	same

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