EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MC4 - Circalittoral mixed sediment > MC43 - Baltic circalittoral mixed sediment > MC433 - Baltic circalittoral mixed sediment characterized by epibenthic cnidarians > MC4333 - Baltic circalittoral mixed sediment dominated by soft corals (Alcyonacea)

Baltic circalittoral mixed sediment dominated by soft corals (Alcyonacea)

Description (English)

Baltic circalittoral bottoms in the aphotic zone with at least 10- 90 % coverage of hard (rock/boulders/stone) and 10-90 % soft substrata (e.g. muddy/coarse sediment/sand). Epibenthic cnidarians cover at least 10 % of the seabed, and more than other perennial attached erect groups. Out of the epibenthic cnidarians, soft corals constitute at least 50 % of the biomass.
Physical environment
Substrate is soft or crystalline rock, boulders or stones mixed with mobile substrates such as sand or coarse substrate.
Characteristic species
Alcyonium digitatum, Swiftia rosea
Geographic range
(Kattegat) and Belt Sea

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MC4333
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)	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]

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Invertebrates Alcyonium digitatum

Invertebrates Swiftia rosea

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Alcyonium digitatum		Invertebrates
Swiftia rosea		Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5.44	Circalittoral mixed sediments	narrower
European Red List of Habitats	BAL49	Epibenthic communities in Baltic upper circalittoral mixed sediment	narrower

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

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5.44	Circalittoral mixed sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.44	Animal communities of circalittoral mixed sediments	wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.44	Animal communities of circalittoral mixed sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4.49	Animal communities of circalittoral mixed sediments	same

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