Infralittoral rock
Description (English)
Infralittoral rock includes habitats of bedrock, boulders and cobbles which occur in the shallow subtidal zone and typically support seaweed communities. The upper limit is marked by the top of the kelp zone whilst the lower limit is marked by the lower limit of kelp growth or the lower limit of dense seaweed growth. Infralittoral rock typically has an upper zone of dense kelp (forest) and a lower zone of sparse kelp (park), both with an understorey of erect seaweeds. In exposed conditions the kelp is Laminaria hyperborea whilst in more sheltered habitats it is usually Laminaria saccharina; other kelp species may dominate under certain conditions. On the extreme lower shore and in the very shallow subtidal (sublittoral fringe) there is usually a narrow band of dabberlocksAlaria esculenta(exposed coasts) or the kelps Laminaria digitata (moderately exposed) or L. saccharina (very sheltered). Areas of mixed ground, lacking stable rock, may lack kelps but support seaweed communities. In estuaries and other turbid-water areas the shallow subtidal may be dominated by animal communities, with only poorly developed seaweed communities.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code MB1 |
---|---|
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
Species scientific name | English common name | Species group |
---|---|---|
Laminaria hyperborea | Algae | |
Laminaria saccharina | Algae |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | A3 | Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata | same |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A3 | Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3 | Sublittoral rock and other hard substrata | wider | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3 | Sublittoral rock and other hard substrata | wider | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3 | Sublittoral rock and other hard substrata | wider | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | A3 | Sublittoral rock and other hard substrata | wider | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | X15 | Sublittoral rock (to 200m depth) | same | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905 | 11.24 | Sublittoral rocky seabeds and kelp forests | narrower | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 11.25 | Sublittoral organogenic concretions | narrower | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997 | 11.24 | Sublittoral rocky seabeds and kelp forests | narrower | |
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 11.25 | narrower | ||
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996 | 11.24 | narrower | ||
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 11.24 | narrower | ||
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993 | 11.25 | narrower | ||
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 11.25 | narrower | ||
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991 | 11.24 | narrower |