EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MB3 - Infralittoral coarse sediment > MB35 - Mediterranean infralittoral coarse sediment > MB353 - Biocenosis of Mediterranean infralittoral pebbles

Biocenosis of Mediterranean infralittoral pebbles

Description (English)

Small strands with infralittoral pebbles are very numerous in the indentations of rocky coasts. The most typical is the biocoenosis when the pebbles are rather small. The characteristic species here are the two amphipods Melita hergensis and (Allorchestes aquilinus) Parhyale aquilina, which feed on organic detritus, and the fish Gouania wildenowii. G. willdenowi, predator on these amphipods. One finds also a characteristic crab, Xantho poressa, and several turbellerians and nemertines. After long periods of calm a thin film of diatoms is found on the pebbles. When the pebbles are larger this typical biocoenosis is often impoverished, but mixed with tolerant species coming from neighbouring rocks such as the sea-star Asterina gibbosa, the small anomuran (Porcellana bluteli) Pisidia bluteli, the gobiescoid fish (Lepadogaster gouani) L. lepadogaster, and so on. During stormy weather all the species escape from the moving pebbles to the lower parts of the boulders generally mixed with the pebbles, or to deeper bottoms, to return as soon as the sea becomes calm

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MB353
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)	Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time	1110	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]

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Invertebrates Asterina gibbosa

Invertebrates Melita hergensis

Invertebrates Parhyale aquilina

Invertebrates Pisidia bluteli

Invertebrates Xantho poressa

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Asterina gibbosa		Invertebrates
Melita hergensis		Invertebrates
Parhyale aquilina		Invertebrates
Pisidia bluteli		Invertebrates
Xantho poressa		Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5.1	Sublittoral coarse sediment	narrower

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5.1	Sublittoral coarse sediment	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.73	Animal communities of deep circalittoral shell gravel bottoms	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.71	Animal communities of deep circalittoral gravel bottoms	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.1	Sublittoral coarse sediment	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.73	Animal communities of deep circalittoral shell gravel bottoms	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.71	Animal communities of deep circalittoral gravel bottoms	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.1	Sublittoral mobile cobbles, gravels and coarse sands	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4.1	Sublittoral mobile cobbles, gravels and coarse sands	same

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