Faunal turf communities on Atlantic circalittoral rock

Description (English)

This habitat type occurs in wave-exposed, tide-swept narrows and straits on circalittoral bedrock and boulders. This complex is characterised by its diverse range of hydroids (Halecium halecinum, Nemertesia antennina and Nemertesia ramosa), bryozoans (Alcyonidium diaphanum, Flustra foliacea, Bugula flabellata and Bugula plumosa) and sponges (Scypha ciliata, Pachymatisma johnstonia, Cliona celeta, Raspailia ramosa, Esperiopsis fucorum, Hemimycale columella and Dysidea fragilis) forming an often dense, mixed faunal turf. Other species found within this complex are Alcyonium digitatum, Urticina felina, Sagartia elegans, Actinothoe sphyrodeta, Caryophyllia smithii, Pomatoceros triqueter, Balanus crenatus, Cancer pagurus, Necora puber, Asterias rubens, Echinus esculentus and Clavelina lepadiformis. The barnacle Balanus crenatus is characteristic of MC1-211, the cushion sponges Halichondria panicea and Myxilla incrustans are characteristic of MC1-2121 and Alcyonium digitatum is characteristic of MC1-2122. The anemones Sagartia elegans, Actinothoe sphyrodeta, Urticina felina, Corynactis viridis and Metridium senile are all found within this complex. Other species present in this high-energy complex are the sponges Esperiopsis fucorum and Pachymatisma johnstonia, the bryozoans Alcyonidium diaphanum and Flustra foliacea, Cancer pagurus, Sertularia argentea and Asterias rubens.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification