EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MB6 - Infralittoral mud > MB62 - Atlantic infralittoral mud > MB625 - Faunal communities on variable or reduced salinity Atlantic sublittoral mud > MB6256 - Oligochaetes in variable or reduced salinity Atlantic infralittoral muddy sediment

Oligochaetes in variable or reduced salinity Atlantic infralittoral muddy sediment

Description (English)

Reduced or variable salinity muddy and sandy mud sediments characterised by oligochaetes, particularly of the genus Tubificoides or from the group Enchytraeidae. The abundance of the oligochaetes may vary by several orders of magnitude but very few other species will be present. Organic loading and poor water-exchange within the sediment lead to anoxic conditions which may explain the low species richness within this biotope.
Situation: This biotope is found towards the edges of tidal channels in estuaries where current velocities allow deposition of silt and the establishment of an infaunal community. The biotope may occur downstream of MB6-257, differentiated by the absence of the freshwater species, and adjacent to more mobile and sandier biotopes in the tidal channels.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MB6256
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)	Estuaries	1130	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

Not available

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5.326	Oligochaetes in variable or reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sediment	same

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5.326	Oligochaetes in variable or reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sediment	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.325	Oligochaetes in variable or reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sediment	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.325	Tubificoides spp. in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sediment	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4.325	Tubificoides spp. in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sediment	same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	IMU.EstMu.Tub	Tubificoides spp. in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sediment	same

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