EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MB5 - Infralittoral sand > MB54 - Black Sea infralittoral sand > MB545 - Black sea infralittoral sands and muddy sands with stable aggregations of perennial unattached macroalgae

Black sea infralittoral sands and muddy sands with stable aggregations of perennial unattached macroalgae

Description (English)

Infralittoral sands and muddy sands with unattached forms of macroalgae, in particular the ball-like form of the red algaPhyllophora crispavar.sphaerica. The classic example of this habitat is the Small Phyllophora field (SPF) National Botanical Reserve, which lies in shallow water (less than 16 m) on sand with shells in Karkinitsky Bay, Ukraine. Characteristic species: Macrophyte species diversity is not high, comprising about 20 species, chiefly Zostera noltii and P. crispa. The Phyllophorabeds support a specialized fauna of more than 110 species of invertebrates and 47 species of fish that use the alga for breeding, food and shelter (many even having a reddish colouration). The main groups of macrozoobenthos recorded from the SPF in 2000 in terms of number of species, abundance and biomass were molluscs, polychaetes and crustaceans, with the most common species (with occurrence 60%) being: Mytilaster linneatus, Bittium reticulatum, Harmothoe reticulata, Nereis zonataandSynisoma capito.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MB545
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

Algae Phyllophora crispa

Flowering Plants Zostera noltii

Invertebrates Bittium reticulatum

Invertebrates Harmothoe reticulata

Invertebrates Nereis zonata

Invertebrates Synisoma capito

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Phyllophora crispa		Algae
Zostera noltii		Flowering Plants
Bittium reticulatum		Invertebrates
Harmothoe reticulata		Invertebrates
Nereis zonata		Invertebrates
Synisoma capito		Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5.24	Infralittoral muddy sand	narrower
European Red List of Habitats	BLSA5.aa	Pontic infralittoral sands and muddy sands with stable aggregations of perennial unattached macroalgae	same

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5.24	Infralittoral muddy sand	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.25	Infralittoral muddy sand	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.25	Animal communities in fully marine shallow-water muddy sands	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4.26	Animal communities in fully marine shallow-water muddy sands	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	A4.21	Animal communities in shallow infralittoral muddy sands	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	A4.22	Animal communities in shallow infralittoral muddy sands	same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	IMS.FaMS	Shallow muddy sand faunal communities	same
MNCR BioMar 96.7 (Britain & Ireland)	IMS.FaMS		same

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