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
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
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 |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |