Alcyonium digitatum with dense Tubularia indivisa and anemones on strongly tide-swept Atlantic circalittoral rock
Description (English)
This variant is typically found on exposed circalittoral bedrock and boulders in sounds, narrows and around tide-swept promontories in accelerated tidal streams. It is dominated by aggregations of dead man's fingers Alcyonium digitatum, and dense clumps or continuous cover of the robust hydroid Tubularia indivisa, particularly on prominent ledges and ridges. Anemones such as Sagartia elegans, Urticina felina, Metridium senile, Actinothoe sphyrodeta and Corynactis virdis form a prominent component of the community. Occasionally, massive sponges such as Pachymatisma johnstonia and Esperiopsis fucorum may be present. Encrusting species such as the polychaete Pomatoceros triqueter and the barnacle Balanus crenatus may be dotted around the rocks, and the top shell Calliostoma zizyphinum may also be observed. Clumps of the bryozoan Flustra foliacea are occasionally seen. The starfish Asterias rubens may be seen amongst a patchy turf of Crisia denticulata and the bryozoan Alcyonidium diaphanum. This variant may also be found on tideswept wrecks and other artificial sustratum.
Situation: Above this biotope, it is usual to find well-developed kelp forest in the upper infralittoral, dominated by Laminaria hyperborea (unit MB1-213). In the lower infralittoral, it is usual to find a tide-swept turf of hydroids and red algae.
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code MC12122 |
---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|
Actinothoe sphyrodeta | Invertebrates | |
Alcyonidium diaphanum | Invertebrates | |
Alcyonium digitatum | Invertebrates | |
Balanus crenatus | Invertebrates | |
Calliostoma zizyphinum | Invertebrates | |
Crisia denticulata | Invertebrates | |
Esperiopsis fucorum | Invertebrates | |
Flustra foliacea | Invertebrates | |
Metridium senile | Invertebrates | |
Pomatoceros triqueter | Invertebrates | |
Sagartia elegans | Invertebrates | |
Tubularia indivisa | Invertebrates | |
Urticina felina | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | A4.1122 | Alcyonium digitatum with dense Tubularia indivisa and anemones on strongly tide-swept circalittoral rock | same |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A4.1122 | Alcyonium digitatum with dense Tubularia indivisa and anemones on strongly tide-swept circalittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.533 | Balanus crenatus, Halichondria panicea and Alcyonidium diaphanum on extremely tide-swept sheltered circalittoral rock | narrower | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.521 | Alcyonium digitatum with dense Tubularia indivisa and anemones on strongly tide-swept circalittoral rock | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.533 | Balanus crenatus, Halichondria panicea and Alcyonidium diaphanum on extremely tide-swept sheltered circalittoral rock | narrower | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.521 | Alcyonium digitatum with dense Tubularia indivisa and anemones on strongly tide-swept circalittoral rock | narrower | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3.521 | Alcyonium digitatum with dense Tubularia indivisa and anemones on strongly tide-swept circalittoral rock | narrower | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3.533 | Balanus crenatus, Halichondria panicea and Alcyonidium diaphanum on extremely tide-swept sheltered circalittoral rock | narrower | |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | ECR.Alc.AlcTub | Alcyonium digitatum with dense Tubularia indivisa and anemones on strongly tide-swept circalittoral rock | narrower | |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | ECR.BS.BalHpan | Balanus crenatus, Halichondria panicea and Alcyonidium diaphanum on extremely tide-swept sheltered circalittoral rock | narrower |