Atlantic 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 dabberlocks Alaria 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 MB12 |
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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
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
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EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A3.1 | Atlantic and Mediterranean high energy infralittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A3.3 | Atlantic and Mediterranean low energy infralittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A3.2 | Atlantic and Mediterranean moderate energy infralittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A3.35 | Faunal communities on low energy infralittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.35 | Faunal communities on low energy infralittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.1 | High energy infralittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.3 | Low energy infralittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.2 | Moderate energy infralittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.23 | Sand-tolerant or disturbed kelp and seaweed on moderately exposed infralittoral rock | narrower | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.35 | Animal-dominated communities of sheltered infralittoral rock in full salinity | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.2 | Infralittoral rock moderately exposed to wave action and/or currents and tidal streams | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.3 | Infralittoral rock sheltered from wave action and currents and tidal streams | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.1 | Infralittoral rock very exposed to wave action and/or currents and tidal streams | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3.2 | Infralittoral rock moderately exposed to wave action and/or currents and tidal streams | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3.3 | Infralittoral rock sheltered from wave action and currents and tidal streams | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3.1 | Infralittoral rock very exposed to wave action and/or currents and tidal streams | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | A3.2 | Infralittoral rock moderately exposed to wave action or tidal currents | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | A3.3 | Infralittoral rock sheltered from wave action or tidal currents | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | A3.1 | Infralittoral rock very exposed to wave action or tidal currents | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | A3.2 | Infralittoral rock moderately exposed to wave action | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | A3.1 | Infralittoral rock very exposed to wave action | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | A3.3 | Sheltered infralittoral rock | same | |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | EIR | Exposed infralittoral rock | same | |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | MIR | Moderately exposed infralittoral rock | same | |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | SIR | Sheltered infralittoral rock | same | |
MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland) | EIR | same | ||
MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland) | MIR | same | ||
MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland) | SIR | same |