EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MC5 - Circalittoral sand > MC52 - Atlantic circalittoral sand

Atlantic circalittoral sand

Description (English)

Sand and muddy sand in the Atlantic circalittoral. Includes clean fine sands with less than 5% silt/clay in deeper water is characterised by a wide range of echinoderms (in some areas including the pea urchin Echinocyamus pusillus), polychaetes and bivalves. This habitat is generally more stable than shallower, infralittoral sands and consequently supports a more diverse community.
Also circalittoral non-cohesive muddy sands with the silt content of the substratum typically ranging from 5% to 20% supports animal-dominated communities characterised by a wide variety of polychaetes, bivalves such as Abra alba and Nucula nitidosa, and echinoderms such as Amphiura spp and Ophiura spp., and Astropecten irregularis. These circalittoral habitats tend to be more stable than their infralittoral counterparts and as such support a richer infaunal community.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MC52
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)	A5.25	Circalittoral fine sand	wider
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5.2	Sublittoral sand	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5.26	Circalittoral muddy sand	wider
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	A5.26	Circalittoral muddy sand	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5	Sublittoral sediment	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5.25	Circalittoral fine sand	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5.2	Sublittoral sand	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4	Sublittoral sediment	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.72	Animal communities of deep circalittoral sandy bottoms	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.2	Sublittoral sand	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.27	Circalittoral muddy sand	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.72	Animal communities of deep circalittoral sandy bottoms	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4	Sublittoral sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.27	Animal communities of circalittoral muddy sands	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.2	Sublittoral sands and muddy sands	narrower
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4	Sublittoral sediments	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4.2	Sublittoral sands and muddy sands	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4.28	Animal communities of circalittoral muddy sands	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	A4.71	Animal communities of circalittoral muddy sands	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	11.23	Sublittoral pebbly seabeds	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	11.22	Sublittoral soft seabeds	narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	11.23		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	11.22		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	11.22		narrower
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	11.23		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	11.23		narrower
CORINE Biotopes Classification 1991	11.22		narrower
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	SS	Sublittoral sediments	same

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