EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MC1 - Circalittoral rock > MC12 - Atlantic circalittoral rock > MC122 - Echinoderms and crustose communities on Atlantic circalittoral rock > MC1223 - Urticina felina and sand-tolerant fauna on sand-scoured or covered Atlantic circalittoral rock

Urticina felina and sand-tolerant fauna on sand-scoured or covered Atlantic circalittoral rock

Description (English)

This biotope typically occurs on tide-swept circalittoral bedrock, rock adjacent to mobile sand/gravel in gullies, and cobbles on gravel and sand, characterised by scour-tolerant robust species. Although many of these species are found on subtidal rock, they tend to occur in larger numbers in these highly sand-influenced conditions. The dominant species by far is the anemone Urticina felina which commonly occurs on rocks at the sand-rock interface, where the scour levels are at a maximum and few species can tolerate this abrasion. The sponge Ciocalypta penicillus is also very characteristic of shifting sand-covered rock. This biotope is only occasionally recorded as a separate entity, because its extent is typically restricted to a very narrow band of rock at the sediment interface. Only occasionally does it cover a large extent of rock (e.g. where the wave action is strong enough to cause sand abrasion well up the rock face or where the rock is low-lying). More often, this scoured zone is recorded as part of whatever biotope occurs on the nearby hard substrata. Other species (which are able to survive, and benefit from the reduced competition) include Balanus crenatus, Pomatoceros triqueter, Cellepora pumicosa, Alcyonidium diaphanum, Cliona celata, encrusting red algae and Asterias rubens.
Situation: This biotope tends to be found in close proximity to mobile sand or gravel, producing scour that tends to limit the number of species found.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type code MC1223
Relation to Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Invertebrates Asterias rubens
Invertebrates Cliona celata
Species scientific name English common name Species group
Asterias rubens Invertebrates
Cliona celata Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) A4.213 Urticina felina and sand-tolerant fauna on sand-scoured or covered circalittoral rock same
For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification Code Habitat type name Relationship type Comment
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 A4.213 Urticina felina and sand-tolerant fauna on sand-scoured or covered circalittoral rock same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A3.623 Urticina felina and sand-tolerant fauna on sand-scoured or covered circalittoral rock same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A3.6231 Urticina felina on sand-scoured circalittoral rock narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 A3.6232 Urticina felina and Ciocalypta penicillus on sand-covered circalittoral rock narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 A3.623 Urticina felina on sand-affected circalittoral rock same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 A3.623 Urticina felina on sand-affected circalittoral rock same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) MCR.ByH.Urt.Cio Urticina felina and Ciocalypta penicillus on sand-covered circalittoral rock narrower
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) MCR.ByH.Urt.Urt Urticina felina on sand-scoured circalittoral rock narrower
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) MCR.ByH.Urt Urticina felina on sand-affected circalittoral rock narrower
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