EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MC4 - Circalittoral mixed sediment > MC43 - Baltic circalittoral mixed sediment > MC438 - Baltic circalittoral mixed sediment characterized by sparse epibenthic fauna (not epibentic bivalves)

Baltic circalittoral mixed sediment characterized by sparse epibenthic fauna (not epibentic bivalves)

Description (English)

Baltic circalittoral bottoms in the aphotic zone with 10- 90 % coverage of hard (rock/boulders/stone) and 10-90 % soft substrata (e.g. muddy/coarse sediment/sand). Sessile/semi-sessile epibenthic fauna is present but covers less than 10% of the seabed.
Physical environment
Substrate is soft or crystalline rock, boulders or stones mixed with mobile substrates such as sand or coarse substrate. Depth is typically from 20 to 100 meters.
Characteristic species
Mytilus spp, Macoma balthica,
Geographic range
Whole Baltic Sea

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MC438
Relation to	Annex I habitat types (EU Habitats Directive)

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
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Large shallow inlets and bays	1160	Overlap	http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007	Annex I: natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation	Reefs	1170	Overlap

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Invertebrates Macoma balthica

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Macoma balthica		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	BAL51	Sparse or no macrofaunal community in Baltic upper circalittoral mixed sediment	narrower
European Red List of Habitats	BAL43	Sparse or no macrofaunal communities on Baltic circalittoral rock and mixed substrata (predominantly hard)	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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