EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MA4 - Littoral mixed sediment > MA42 - Atlantic littoral mixed sediment > MA423 - Unvegetated Atlantic littoral mixed sediment > MA4233 - Cirratulids and Cerastoderma edule in Atlantic littoral mixed sediment

Cirratulids and Cerastoderma edule in Atlantic littoral mixed sediment

Description (English)

Sheltered mixed sediments, usually subject to variable salinity conditions. Banks of shell may be present. The infauna is very diverse, dominated by a range of polychaetes including Exogone naidina, Sphaerosyllis taylori, Pygospio elegans, Chaetozone gibber, Cirriformia tentaculata, Aphelochaeta marioni, Capitella capitata, Mediomastus fragilis, and Melinna palmata. The oligochaetes Tubificoides benedii and T. pseudogaster are abundant, as is the cockle Cerastoderma edule. A large range of amphipods may occur, including Melita palmata, Microprotopus maculatus, Aora gracilis and Corophium volutator. The bivalves Abra alba and A. nitida may occur. The barnacle Elminius modestus can be abundant where the sediment has stones on the surface. Epifaunal algae may occur attached to stable cobbles on the sediment surface.
Situation: Mid shore, lower shore, as extension of shallow sublittoral biotope.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MA4233
Relation to	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)

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
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Estuaries	1130	Overlap	http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide	1140	Overlap

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Invertebrates Abra alba

Invertebrates Cerastoderma edule

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Abra alba		Invertebrates
Cerastoderma edule		Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A2.421	Cirratulids and Cerastoderma edule in littoral mixed sediment	same

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A2.422	Syllid and cirratulid polychaetes in poorly sorted mixed sediment shores	wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A2.421	Cirratulids and Cerastoderma edule in littoral mixed sediment	wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A2.423	Syllid and cirratulid polychaetes in variable salinity muddy gravel shores	wider

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