Laminaria hyperborea forest with dense foliose red seaweeds on exposed Atlantic upper infralittoral rock
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code MB12151 |
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Relation to | Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites) |
Description (English)
Very exposed to exposed upper infralittoral bedrock or large boulders characterised by a dense forest of the kelp Laminaria hyperborea. On the rock surface beneath the kelp canopy is a dense turf of red foliose seaweeds including Cryptopleura ramosa, Plocamium cartilagineum, Phycodrys rubens and Callophyllis laciniata as well as encrusting coralline algae and the foliose brown seaweed Dictyota dichotoma. The red algal turf can be virtually mono-specific, dominated by stands of P. cartilagineum, C. ramosa or Heterosiphonia plumosa, Kallymenia reniformis or in the north, Odonthalia dentata. Other sites may contain a dense mixed turf of these and other species. The dense turf is due, in part, to the relatively low grazing pressure from the urchin Echinus esculentus in such shallow exposed conditions. The shallowest kelp plants are often short or stunted, while deeper plants are taller and the stipes are heavily epiphytised by red seaweeds such as Delesseria sanguinea and Membranoptera alata. The bryozoan Electra pilosa can form colonies on the foliose red seaweeds, while the bryozoan Membranipora membranacea more often can be found on the L. hyperborea fronds along with the ascidian Botryllus schlosseri and the hydroid Obelia geniculata. The gastropods Gibbula cineraria and Calliostoma zizyphinum are found grazing among the kelp holdfasts, while a few individuals of the barnacle Balanus crenatus can present along with the white calcareous tubes of the polychaete Pomatoceros triqueter, where substratum is available. The starfish Asterias rubens can be found predating on polychaetes, mussels and small crustaceans. The soft coral Alcyonium digitatum can be present covering the rock surface as well as the anthozoan Urticina felina.
Situation: This kelp forest biotope most commonly occurs beneath a zone of Alaria esculenta/Mytilus edulis (unit MB1-2111) and above a L. hyperborea park (unit MB1-2152). At very exposed sites, such as some areas of Shetland and St Kilda, the lower infralittoral zone is often characterised by a park of Laminaria saccharina and/or Saccorhiza polyschides (MB1-232). This zone presumably develops due to the mobility of nearby cobbles, boulders and sediment during winter storms, removing the slower growing L. hyperborea. Occasionally, a band of dense foliose seaweeds, with no kelp, occurs below the kelp forest (units MB1-221 or MB1-2211).
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
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 |
---|---|---|
Alaria esculenta | Algae | |
Callophyllis laciniata | Algae | |
Cryptopleura ramosa | Algae | |
Delesseria sanguinea | Algae | |
Dictyota dichotoma | Algae | |
Heterosiphonia plumosa | Algae | |
Kallymenia reniformis | Algae | |
Laminaria hyperborea | Algae | |
Laminaria saccharina | Algae | |
Membranoptera alata | Algae | |
Odonthalia dentata | Algae | |
Phycodrys rubens | Algae | |
Plocamium cartilagineum | Algae | |
Saccorhiza polyschides | Algae | |
Alcyonium digitatum | Invertebrates | |
Asterias rubens | Invertebrates | |
Balanus crenatus | Invertebrates | |
Botryllus schlosseri | Invertebrates | |
Calliostoma zizyphinum | Invertebrates | |
Echinus esculentus | Invertebrates | |
Electra pilosa | Invertebrates | |
Gibbula cineraria | Invertebrates | |
Membranipora membranacea | Invertebrates | |
Mytilus edulis | Invertebrates | |
Obelia geniculata | Invertebrates | |
Pomatoceros triqueter | Invertebrates | |
Urticina felina | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | A3.1151 | Laminaria hyperborea forest with dense foliose red seaweeds on exposed upper infralittoral rock | same |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A3.1151 | Laminaria hyperborea forest with dense foliose red seaweeds on exposed upper infralittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.1151 | Laminaria hyperborea forest with dense foliose red seaweeds on exposed upper infralittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.1151 | Laminaria hyperborea forest with dense foliose red seaweeds on exposed upper infralittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3.1151 | Laminaria hyperborea forest with dense foliose red seaweeds on exposed upper infralittoral rock | same | |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | EIR.KFaR.LhypR.Ft | Laminaria hyperborea forest with dense foliose red seaweeds on exposed upper infralittoral rock | same |