Mediterranean littoral mixed sediment
Description (English)
Mediterranean shores of mixed sediments range from muds with gravel and sand components to mixed sediments with pebbles, gravels, sands and mud in more even proportions. By definition, mixed sediments are poorly sorted. It is likely that there are broad transition areas between areas of mudflat or sandy mudflat, and mixed sediment biotopes where the sediment consists mainly of mud but has significant proportions of gravel and sand mixed in. Gravel mud may occur in patches on mudflats. Similarly, there is no easily defined boundary between areas of mixed sediment with stable cobbles and boulders, and boulder fields which fall into the rocky shore category. Stable large cobbles or boulders may be present which support epibiota such as fucoids and green seaweeds which are more commonly found on rocky and boulder shores.
Mixed sediments which are predominantly muddy tend to support infaunal communities which are similar to those of mud and sandy mud shores. Habitats with sheltered gravel sandy mud, which are subject to reduced salinity, mainly on the mid and lower shore, may have abundant communities of polychaetes.
Characteristic species: Polychaetes: Aphelochaeta marioni, Capitella capitata, Cirriformia tentaculata ,Sphaerosyllis taylori, Pygospio elegans; bivalves: Cerastoderma edule, Abra nitida; oligochaetes:Tubificoides pseudogaster; crustaceans: Aora gracilis, Melita palmata, Microprotopus maculatus, Corophium volutator.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code MA45 |
---|---|
Relation to | Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites) |
Legal status
Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | A2.4 | Littoral mixed sediments | narrower |
European Red List of Habitats | MEDA2.42 | Communities of Mediterranean mediolittoral mixed sediment | same |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A2.4 | Littoral mixed sediments | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A2.4 | Littoral mixed substrates | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A2.4 | Littoral combination sediments | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A2.4 | Littoral mixed sediments | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | A2.4 | Littoral mixed sediments | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | A2.4 | Littoral mixed sediments | same | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 14.1 | Part of Mud flats and sand flats | wider | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 11.27 | Part of Soft sediment littoral communities | wider | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 14 | Part of Mud flats and sand flats | wider | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 11.27 | Part of Soft sediment littoral communities | wider | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 11.27 | wider | ||
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 11.27 | wider | ||
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | LMX | Littoral mixed sediments | same | |
MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland) | LMX | same |