Polyides rotundus, Ahnfeltia plicata and Chondrus crispus on sand-covered Atlantic infralittoral rock
Description (English)
Low-lying rock surrounded by mobile sand and often subject to burying by the sand, with a turf of resilient red seaweeds Chondrus crispus, Polyides rotundus and Ahnfeltia plicata typically protruding through the sand on the upper surfaces of the rock. Other scour-tolerant seaweeds include Rhodomela confervoides, Phyllophora pseudoceranoides, Phyllophora crispa, Furcellaria lumbricalis, Gracilaria gracilis, Ceramium rubrum, Plocamium cartilagineum, Heterosiphonia plumosa, Cryptopleura ramosa and Dilsea carnosa. Coralline crusts typically cover the rock, while scattered individuals of the brown seaweeds Halidrys siliquosa, Cladostephus spongiosus, Dictyota dichotoma and Laminaria saccharina can be present. The large anthozoan Urticina felina can occur in this biotope but there are few other conspicuous animals.
Situation: This biotope occurs on shallow sand-covered rock, often below bedrock and boulders supporting kelp forest, which is above the effect of, sand scour (unit MB1-21A) or abutting sand-scoured kelp on bedrock (unit MB1-235). It may also be found adjacent to the shallow kelp and Chorda filum biotope (unit MB1-233) and similarly can be surrounded by a variety of sediment biotopes.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code MB1237 |
---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|
Ahnfeltia plicata | Algae | |
Ceramium rubrum | Algae | |
Chondrus crispus | Algae | |
Cladostephus spongiosus | Algae | |
Cryptopleura ramosa | Algae | |
Dictyota dichotoma | Algae | |
Dilsea carnosa | Algae | |
Furcellaria lumbricalis | Algae | |
Gracilaria gracilis | Algae | |
Heterosiphonia plumosa | Algae | |
Laminaria saccharina | Algae | |
Phyllophora crispa | Algae | |
Plocamium cartilagineum | Algae | |
Polyides rotundus | Algae | |
Rhodomela confervoides | Algae | |
Urticina felina | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | A3.127 | Polyides rotundus, Ahnfeltia plicata and Chondrus crispus on sand-covered infralittoral rock | same |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A3.127 | Polyides rotundus, Ahnfeltia plicata and Chondrus crispus on sand-covered infralittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.237 | Polyides rotundus, Ahnfeltia plicata and Chondrus crispus on sand-covered infralittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.237 | Polyides rotundus, Ahnfeltia plicata and Chondrus crispus on sand-covered infralittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3.237 | Polyides rotundus, Ahnfeltia plicata and Chondrus crispus on sand-covered infralittoral rock | same | |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | MIR.SedK.PolAhn | Polyides rotundus, Ahnfeltia plicata and Chondrus crispus on sand-covered infralittoral rock | same |