EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MB5 - Infralittoral sand > MB55 - Mediterranean infralittoral sand > MB552 - Biocenosis of Mediterranean well sorted fine sands

Biocenosis of Mediterranean well sorted fine sands

Description (English)

Stretches of fine sands continuing at greater depth the biocenosis of fine sands at high level; the sediment is usually of homogeneous granulometry and terrigenous origin. The biocenosis begins at around 2-2.5 meters and may reach a depth of 25 meters; sometimes it occupies vast areas along the coasts or in wide bays.
Locally, the biocenosis of well sorted fine sands tolerates a slight lack of saltiness in the water near estuaries and surrounding some Mediterranean ponds. It thus presents a certain impoverishment, offset by the presence of some euryhaline species. When the wave action is too strong, the biocenosis can also be impoverished. Locally, the Cymodocea nodosa phanerogam can colonise certain areas, where it will constitute a local facies with epiflora. The fairly localized presence of some species (Caulerpa prolifera, Halophila stipulacea

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MB552
Relation to	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)

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
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time	1110	Overlap	http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Estuaries	1130	Overlap
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	* Coastal lagoons	1150	Overlap
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Large shallow inlets and bays	1160	Overlap

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Algae Caulerpa prolifera

Flowering Plants Cymodocea nodosa

Flowering Plants Halophila stipulacea

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Caulerpa prolifera		Algae
Cymodocea nodosa		Flowering Plants
Halophila stipulacea		Flowering Plants

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5.236	Mediterranean communities of well sorted fine sands	same
European Red List of Habitats	MEDA5.53	Seagrass beds (other than Posidonia) on Mediterranean infralittoral sand	wider
European Red List of Habitats	MEDA5.23	Faunal communities in Mediterranean infralittoral fine sand	narrower

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5.236	Mediterranean communities of well sorted fine sands	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.23	Communities of well sorted fine sands	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4.23	Biocenosis of well sorted fine sands	same

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