EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MB1 - Infralittoral rock > MB12 - Atlantic infralittoral rock > MB121 - Kelp and seaweed communities on Atlantic infralittoral rock > MB1219 - Laminaria hyperborea on tide-swept Atlantic infralittoral mixed substrata > MB12191 - Laminaria hyperborea forest and foliose red seaweeds on tide-swept upper infralittoral mixed substrata

Laminaria hyperborea forest and foliose red seaweeds on tide-swept upper infralittoral mixed substrata

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code MB12191
Relation to Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)

Description (English)

Moderately wave-exposed to wave sheltered, tide-swept mixed substrata, with dense Laminaria hyperborea forest and sparser Laminaria saccharina, characterised by an under-storey and stipe flora of foliose seaweeds. The kelp stipes support epiphytes such as Palmaria palmata Callophyllis laciniata, Cryptopleura ramosa, Membranoptera alata, and Phycodrys rubens. At some sites, instead of being covered by red seaweeds, the kelp stipes are heavily encrusted by the ascidians Botryllus schlosseri and in the south-west Distomus variolosus. Epilithic seaweeds (Delesseria sanguinea, Plocamium cartilagineum, Odonthalia dentata, Dictyota dichotoma and Desmarestia aculeata) and crustose seaweeds commonly occur beneath the kelp. The kelp fronds are often covered with growth of the hydroid Obelia geniculata or the bryozoan Membranipora membranacea. Although these species are also found in most kelp forests, in this biotope they are particularly dense. On the rock surface, a rich fauna comprising anthozoans such as Urticina felina, the barnacle Balanus crenatus, the calcareous tubeworm Pomatoceros triqueter, colonial ascidians such as Clavelina lepadiformis, the gastropods Calliostoma zizyphinum and Gibbula cineraria, and the bryozoans Electra pilosa and Alcyonidium diaphanum occur. Also found on the rock are the echinoderms Echinus esculentus, Asterias rubens and Ophiothrix fragilis, and the crabs Cancer pagurus, Pagurus bernhardus and Necora puber.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Algae Delesseria sanguinea
Algae Dictyota dichotoma
Algae Laminaria hyperborea
Algae Laminaria saccharina
Algae Odonthalia dentata
Algae Plocamium cartilagineum
Invertebrates Asterias rubens
Invertebrates Botryllus schlosseri
Invertebrates Calliostoma zizyphinum
Invertebrates Cancer pagurus
Invertebrates Clavelina lepadiformis
Invertebrates Distomus variolosus
Invertebrates Echinus esculentus
Invertebrates Electra pilosa
Invertebrates Ophiothrix fragilis
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Delesseria sanguinea Algae
Dictyota dichotoma Algae
Laminaria hyperborea Algae
Laminaria saccharina Algae
Odonthalia dentata Algae
Plocamium cartilagineum Algae
Asterias rubens Invertebrates
Botryllus schlosseri Invertebrates
Calliostoma zizyphinum Invertebrates
Cancer pagurus Invertebrates
Clavelina lepadiformis Invertebrates
Distomus variolosus Invertebrates
Echinus esculentus Invertebrates
Electra pilosa Invertebrates
Ophiothrix fragilis Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) A3.2131 Laminaria hyperborea forest and foliose red seaweeds on tide-swept upper infralittoral mixed substrata same
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type Comment
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 A3.2131 Laminaria hyperborea forest and foliose red seaweeds on tide-swept upper infralittoral mixed substrata same
European Environment Agency (EEA)
Kongens Nytorv 6
1050 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Phone: +45 3336 7100