Laminaria saccharina and Laminaria digitata on sheltered Atlantic sublittoral fringe rock

Description (English)

Sheltered bedrock and boulders in the sublittoral fringe characterised by a mixed canopy of the kelp Laminaria digitata (usually in its broad-fronded cape-form) and Laminaria saccharina - both species are generally Frequent or greater. Beneath the kelp canopy, the understorey of red seaweeds often includes Chondrus crispus, Dumontia contorta, Bonnemaisonia hamifera and Plocamium cartilagineum. The surface of the rock is usually covered with encrusting coralline algae as well as non-calcified red crusts and the tube-building polychaete Pomatoceros triqueter. The brown seaweeds Chorda filum, Ectocarpaceae and Fucus serratus can be present along with the green seaweeds Ulva lactuca and Enteromorpha intestinalis. Patches of the sponge Halichondria panicea can frequently be found in cracks and crevices. Beneath and between boulders a variety of mobile crustaceans such as Carcinus maenas, the gastropod Gibbula cineraria and the starfish Asterias rubens are common.
Situation: Where hard substrata occur on the shore, this biotope will be found below the F. serratus zone (units MA1-23F1, MA1-244 or MA1-23F2 on mixed substrata). With such sheltered shores, the transition between sublittoral fringe and the true sublittoral zone may not be distinct; this biotope therefore extends into the shallow sublittoral kelp forest below (MB1-2391, MB1-2391 or MB1-23B).

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code MB123A1
Relation to Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Algae Enteromorpha intestinalis
Algae Fucus serratus
Algae Laminaria saccharina
Algae Plocamium cartilagineum
Algae Ulva lactuca
Invertebrates Asterias rubens
Invertebrates Carcinus maenas
Invertebrates Halichondria panicea
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Enteromorpha intestinalis Algae
Fucus serratus Algae
Laminaria saccharina Algae
Plocamium cartilagineum Algae
Ulva lactuca Algae
Asterias rubens Invertebrates
Carcinus maenas Invertebrates
Halichondria panicea Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) A3.3131 Laminaria saccharina and Laminaria digitata on sheltered sublittoral fringe rock same
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type Comment
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 A3.3131 Laminaria saccharina and Laminaria digitata on sheltered sublittoral fringe rock same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A3.3121 Laminaria saccharina and Laminaria digitata on sheltered sublittoral fringe rock same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 A3.3121 Laminaria saccharina and Laminaria digitata on sheltered sublittoral fringe rock same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 A3.3121 Laminaria saccharina and Laminaria digitata on sheltered sublittoral fringe rock same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) SIR.K.Lsac.Ldig Laminaria saccharina and Laminaria digitata on sheltered sublittoral fringe rock same
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