Faunal communities on full salinity Atlantic infralittoral mixed sediment
Description (English)
Shallow mixed (heterogeneous) sediments in fully marine or near fully marine conditions, supporting various animal-dominated communities, with relatively low proportions of seaweeds. This habitat may include well mixed muddy gravelly sands or very poorly sorted mosaics of shell, cobbles and pebbles embedded in mud, sand or gravel. Due to the quite variable nature of the sediment type, a widely variable array of communities may be found, including those characterised by bivalves (MB4-233, MB4-231, and MB2-222), polychaetes (MB4-232) and file shells (MB2-221). This has resulted in many species being described as characteristic of this habitat type all contributing only a small percentage to the overall similarity (see below). This habitat type may also include a newly proposed Chaetopterus biotope (Rees pers com.) recently found in the eastern English Channel. This biotope is characterised by an undescribed Chaetopterus sp. and small Lanice conchilega. Further sampling is need in order to assess and fully characterise this potential biotope. As a result, the Chaetopterus biotope has not been included in this revision. Infaunal data for this habitat type are limited to that described in the biotope MB4-233 and so are not representative of the infaunal component of the whole habitat type.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code MB423 |
---|---|
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 |
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Lanice conchilega | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | A5.43 | Infralittoral mixed sediments | narrower |
European Red List of Habitats | NEAA5.43 | Marine Atlantic infralittoral mixed sediments | same |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A5.43 | Infralittoral mixed sediments | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A4.42 | Infralittoral mixed sediment | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A4.42 | Animal communities in shallow-water mixed sediments | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A4.44 | Animal communities in mixed shallow-water sediments | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811 | A4.44 | Animal communities in shallow mixed infralittoral sediments | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712 | A4.43 | Animal communities in shallow mixed infralittoral sediments | same | |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | IMX.FaMX | Shallow mixed sediment faunal communities | same | |
MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland) | IMX.FaMX | same |