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
Vegetation types
Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)
Not availableSpecies mentioned in habitat description
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 |
History
Classification | Code | Habitat type name | Relationship type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 |