EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MB1 - Infralittoral rock > MB12 - Atlantic infralittoral rock > MB124 - Kelp communities on variable salinity Atlantic infralittoral rock

Kelp communities on variable salinity Atlantic infralittoral rock

Description (English)

Very wave-sheltered bedrock, boulders and cobbles subject to only weak tidal streams in the sublittoral fringe and infralittoral zone, in areas of variable/reduced salinity. This habitat type is characterised by the kelp Laminaria saccharina and coralline crusts such as Lithothamnion glaciale. Grazers such as the urchins Psammechinus miliaris and Echinus esculentus, and the gastropods Gibbula cineraria and Buccinum undatum may be present. The tube-dwelling polychaete Pomatoceros triqueter, the ascidians Ciona intestinalis, Corella parallelogramma and Ascidiella scabra, the barnacle Balanus crenatus, the starfish Asterias rubens and the brittlestar Ophiothrix fragilis may also be present. Red algal communities are composed primarily of Phycodrys rubens. The crabs Carcinus maenas and Pagurus bernhardus, and the bivalve Modiolus modiolus may also be observed.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MB124
Relation to	Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Legal text	Annex	Name in legal text	Code in legal text	Habitat type relationship	More information
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Estuaries	1130	Overlap	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Large shallow inlets and bays	1160	Overlap	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Reefs	1170	Narrower	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Algae Laminaria saccharina

Algae Lithothamnion glaciale

Invertebrates Ascidiella scabra

Invertebrates Asterias rubens

Invertebrates Buccinum undatum

Invertebrates Carcinus maenas

Invertebrates Ciona intestinalis

Invertebrates Echinus esculentus

Invertebrates Modiolus modiolus

Invertebrates Ophiothrix fragilis

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Laminaria saccharina		Algae
Lithothamnion glaciale		Algae
Ascidiella scabra		Invertebrates
Asterias rubens		Invertebrates
Buccinum undatum		Invertebrates
Carcinus maenas		Invertebrates
Ciona intestinalis		Invertebrates
Echinus esculentus		Invertebrates
Modiolus modiolus		Invertebrates
Ophiothrix fragilis		Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A3.32	Kelp in variable salinity on low energy infralittoral rock	narrower
European Red List of Habitats	NEAA3.32	Kelp in variable salinity low energy Atlantic infralittoral rock	same

For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A3.32	Kelp in variable salinity on low energy infralittoral rock	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A3.31	Silted kelp communities on sheltered infralittoral rock	wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A3.31	Silted kelp communities on sheltered infralittoral rock	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A3.31	Silted kelp communities on sheltered infralittoral rock	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	A3.31	Silted kelp communities on sheltered infralittoral rock	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	A3.31	Silted kelp communities on sheltered infralittoral rock	same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	SIR.K	Silted kelp (stable rock)	same
MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland)	SIR.K		same

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