EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MC4 - Circalittoral mixed sediment > MC42 - Atlantic circalittoral mixed sediment

Atlantic circalittoral mixed sediment

Description (English)

Mixed (heterogeneous) sediment habitats in the circalittoral zone (generally below 15-20m) including well mixed muddy gravelly sands or very poorly sorted mosaics of shell, cobbles and pebbles embedded in or lying upon mud, sand or gravel. Due to the variable nature of the seabed a variety of communities can develop which are often very diverse. A wide range of infaunal polychaetes, bivalves, echinoderms and burrowing anemones such as Cerianthus lloydii are often present in such habitat and the presence of hard substrata (shells and stones) on the surface enables epifaunal species to become established, particularly hydroids such as Nemertesia spp and Hydrallmania falcata. The combination of epifauna and infauna can lead to species rich communities. Coarser mixed sediment communities may show a strong resemblance, in terms of infauna, to biotopes within the sublittoral coarse sediment complex. However, infaunal data for this biotope complex is limited to that described under MC4-213, and so are not representative of the infaunal component of this biotope complex.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MC42
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)	Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time	1110	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]
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)	Sublittoral sediment	A5	Narrower	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)	A5.4	Sublittoral mixed sediments	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5.44	Circalittoral mixed sediments	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5	Sublittoral sediment	narrower

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5.4	Sublittoral mixed sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5.44	Circalittoral mixed sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5	Sublittoral sediment	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.75	Animal communities of deep circalittoral mixed sediment bottoms	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.4	Sublittoral mixed sediment	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.44	Animal communities of circalittoral mixed sediments	wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.76	Communities of shelf-edge detritic bottom	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4	Sublittoral sediment	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.4	Sublittoral combination sediments	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.44	Animal communities of circalittoral mixed sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.76	Communities of shelf-edge detritic bottom	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4	Sublittoral sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.75	Animal communities of deep circalittoral mixed sediment bottoms	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4.4	Sublittoral mixed sediments	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4.72	Biocenosis of shelf-edge detritic bottom	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4	Sublittoral sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4.49	Animal communities of circalittoral mixed sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	A4	Sublittoral sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	X16	Sublittoral sediments	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	11.22	Sublittoral soft seabeds	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	11.23	Sublittoral pebbly seabeds	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	11.22	Sublittoral soft seabeds	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	11.23	Sublittoral pebbly seabeds	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	11.23		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	11.22		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	11.23		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	11.22		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	11.22		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	11.23		narrower
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	SS	Sublittoral sediments	same

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