Flustra foliacea and Hydrallmania falcataon tide-swept circalittoral mixed sediment
Description (English)
This biotope represents part of a transition between sand-scoured circalittoral rock where the epifauna is conspicuous enough to be considered as a biotope and a sediment biotope where an infaunal sample is required to characterise it and is possibly best considered an epibiotic overlay. Flustra foliacea and the hydroid Hydrallmania falcata characterise this biotope; lesser amounts of other hydroids such as Sertularia argentea, Nemertesia antennina and occasionally Nemertesia ramose, occur where suitably stable hard substrata is found. The anemone Urticina feline and the soft coral Alcyonium digitatum may also characterise this biotope. Barnacles Balanus crenatus and tube worms Pomatoceros triqueter may be present and the robust bryozoans Alcyonidium diaphanum and Vesicularia spinosa appear amongst the hydroids at a few sites. Sabella pavonina and Lanice conchilega may be occasionally found in the coarse sediment around the stones. In shallower (i.e. upper circalittoral) examples of this biotope scour-tolerant robust red algae such as Polysiphonia nigrescens, Calliblepharis spp. and Gracilaria gracilis are found.
Situation: This biotope is found around most coasts, although regional differences are seen where one or two similarly scour-tolerant species such as Styela clava and Crepidula fornicata (Solent) occupy the hard substrata
Source: EUNIS habitat classification
Quick facts
EUNIS habitat type | code MC4214 |
---|---|
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 |
---|---|---|
Alcyonidium diaphanum | Invertebrates | |
Alcyonium digitatum | Invertebrates | |
Flustra foliacea | Invertebrates | |
Hydrallmania falcata | Invertebrates | |
Lanice conchilega | Invertebrates | |
Nemertesia antennina | Invertebrates | |
Pomatoceros triqueter | Invertebrates | |
Sabella pavonina | Invertebrates | |
Sertularia argentea | Invertebrates | |
Vesicularia spinosa | Invertebrates |
Other classifications
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type |
---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012) | A5.444 | Flustra foliacea and Hydrallmania falcata on tide-swept circalittoral mixed sediment | same |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410 | A5.444 | Flustra foliacea and Hydrallmania falcata on tide-swept circalittoral mixed sediment | same | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A4.133 | Sertularia argentea, Sertularia cupressina and Hydrallmania falcata on tide-swept circalittoral cobbles and pebbles | narrower | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308 | A3.621 | Sparse sponges, Nemertesia spp., Alcyonidium diaphanum and Bowerbankia spp. on circalittoral mixed substrata | narrower | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A4.133 | Sertularia argentea, Sertularia cupressina and Hydrallmania falcata on tide-swept circalittoral cobbles and pebbles | narrower | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202 | A3.621 | Sparse sponges, Nemertesia spp., Alcyonidium diaphanum and Bowerbankia spp. on circalittoral mixed substrata | narrower | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A3.621 | Sparse sponges, Nemertesia spp., Alcyonidium diaphanum and Bowerbankia spp. on circalittoral mixed substrata | narrower | |
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910 | A4.143 | Sertularia argentea, Sertularia cupressina and Hydrallmania falcata on tide-swept circalittoral cobbles and pebbles | narrower | |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | MCR.ByH.SNemAdia | Sparse sponges, Nemertesia spp., Alcyonidium diaphanum and Bowerbankia spp. on circalittoral mixed substrata | narrower | |
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland) | MCR.ByH.Flu.SerHyd | Sertularia argentea, Sertularia cupressina and Hydrallmania falcata on tide-swept circalittoral cobbles and pebbles | narrower |